Tucson’s Calexico follows 2012’s New Orleans tinged Algiers with their eighth album Edge of the Sun, which sees the septet returning to the mariachi-infused-Americana for which they’ve become known. Their latest was recorded in part within Mexico City’s colorful Coyoacán neighborhood and pushes the band’s sound with experimentations involving other Latino music styles like cumbia and flamenco. This album also includes an impressive list of guest collaborators including: Sam Beam (Iron and Wine), Neko Case, Mexican singer-songwriter Carla Morrison, and the Greek band Takim. Calexico keeps things loose and freewheeling, displaying a diversity from track-to-track; a few highlights include: the bluesy “Bullets and Rocks”; the electro-folk song “Tapping on the Line”; the twangy “Woodshed Waltz”; the colorful Mexicana flavored track “Coyoacan Theme”; and the electronic single “Cumbia Donde.” The aesthetics of Calexico’s best material still flow throughout the album while the new sound and textures make Edge Of The Sun an interesting and fun listen. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | Friends of Dean Martinez, Giant Sand, Iron and Wine, Los Lobos, Mariachi El Bronx