Carried to Dust

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.