Some 22 years since they first formed, Calexico have
added yet another successful musical adventure to
their list in the way of Algiers. You might think that
after six studio albums and a suitcase of tour CDs,
collaborations with the likes of Victoria Williams, Iron &
Wine, Willie Nelson, Roger McGuinn and Nancy Sinatra,
and soundtrack work to boot, there wasn’t much more
they could achieve. But you’d be wrong. The feel of
Algiers is recognizably classic Calexico but their style
has been revitalized and reborn by the experience of
recording in New Orleans. Conscious of the clichés that
can sometimes afflict acts working in a city with such a
strong identity, band members Joey Burns, John
Convertino and producer, Craig Schumacher, chose to
avoid the bigger, better known studios in favor of a
smaller, more intimate setting. The result of this
decision is arguably the most exciting and accessible
record Calexico have made.
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