Wednesday 21 May 2008

Calexico - Hot Rail

Quarterstick / City Slang 20175-2. 2000


I'm not going to listen to Calexico any more. I'm not one for reading inlays very often, but just had a look through this one. The core of Calexico is two guys, that much I knew. But here's what they do:
John Convertino: drums, vibes, marimba, organ, percussion, accordian
Joey Burns: bass, guitar, cello, voice, loops, congas, accordian, organ

I mean, come on. Leave something for the rest of us. Too much talent. I'm glad to see they don't do the artwork as well.

This fits quite snuggly between those two listed below. More pace and variation than Black Light, but retaining the healthy dose of mariachi absent on Feast.

More slinkly southern-state sleaze, and nice it is too.

Highlights: the slow, sultry jazz of Fade, the Tijuana thumper Crystal Frontier, atmospheric pizzicato cello and accordian on Untitled III. Actually, they're all really good. This is probably the best of the three.

Highly recommended, even if they are sickeningly good multi-instrumentalists that instill feelings of inadequacy with every listen.

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