Hot Rail

Calexico: Joey Burns (vocals, guitar, steel guitar, mandolin, cello, accordion, keyboards, double bass, percussion); John Convertino (accordion, vibraphone, marimba, drums, percussion).
Giant Sand members John Convertino and Joey Burns here continue their eclectic, soundtrack-like side project exploring music and culture. Approaching conventional song structure as a painter would a blank canvas, there are no rules and no limitations in their artful approach to their music.
"El Picador" has an atmospheric quality that practically puts the taste of Mexican soil in your mouth, while in "Ballad of Cable Hogue," the English/French vocals play out like a dialogue to a Western classic. The instrumental "Muleta" paints more sonic pictures of Mexico with lush layers of acoustic guitars, while the dramatic and percussive "Mid-Town" creates a soundtrack of frenzied movement. The sleepy, jazz-washed accompaniment of "Fade" uses Jim Morrison influenced lyrics to excellent brooding effect, and a lonely melody played on accordion with sparse accompaniment builds with intensity in "Untitled III." Calexico transports you with its infectiously organic, analog feel.