Calexico: Joey Burns, Paul Niehaus, Martin Wenk, Jacob Valenzuela, Volker Zander.
After 2006's GARDEN RUIN, which downplayed the last half of Calexico's portmanteau name considerably in favor of an alt-folk sound much more in line with their occasional collaborators, Iron and Wine, CARRIED TO DUST is a strong return to the classic Calexico sound. Joey Burns and John Convertino infuse their largely acoustic indie rock songs with Ennio Morricone-style spaghetti western climaxes, mariachi horns, flamenco guitars, and other evocative sounds of the American Southwest. One difference is a newfound political sensitivity, best heard on the powerful opener, "Victor Jara's Hands," in honor of the Chilean poet and political activist tortured and murdered by henchmen of his country's brutal military junta in 1973. Another highlight is "El Gatillo (Trigger Revisited)," a complete reworking of a song that first appeared on 1998's THE BLACK LIGHT. CARRIED TO DUST is available as a digital download, a standard CD, and a vinyl LP.
Professional Reviews
Spin (p.114) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "Bouncing from South American political icons to snowy Russian cities, CARRIED TO DUST's songs travel a trail that seems carved out of ancient echoes."
Alternative Press (p.153) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[M]ost of DUST's tracks have a cinematic quality, from the haunting strings of the shockingly Simon And Garfunkel-esque 'The News About William' to the full-blown mariachi vibe of 'Inspiracion'..."
Magnet (p.102) - "Burns and Convertino have swapped sincere-yet-simplistic politics for mysterious, discursive travelogues and brought back the mariachi horns and twangy desert guitars."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.112) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "This time the desert noir instrumentals are back and as captivating as ever, ranging from spaghetti western to orchestral."
Blender (Magazine) (p.79) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "[T]his Arizona six-piece makes music about drifing from crumbling dance halls to off-the-grid cantinas, all richly evoked by Ennio Morricone guitars, mariachi horns and pedal steel."
Paste (magazine) (p.59) - "CARRIED TO DUST is all wide-open spaces....Journeying infuses most of the album, from 'Bend to the Road' to haunting closer 'Contention City'....This one is a beauty from start to finish."
Clash (magazine) (p.109) - "Central track 'Man Made Lake' tells the whole story -- poetic, beautiful and with that familiar Mexican sound to it."
