Of course every band has to move on and can't keep releasing the same stuff album after album but for me Calexico's last album ('Garden Ruin') just didn't seem to work at all. Unmistakably Calexico (but not as we know it Jim). So for the most part I found their last CD pretty disappointing, two or three gems but generally it didn't seem to flow, there was no strong vibe and it seemed a patchy and unrewarding listen compared to their previous albums.

This new CD has pretty much the same line up, again songs different to their older stuff so broadly similar feel to 'Garden Ruin', the omens aren't good then. Fortunately though it's much more of a return to sparkling top form. So once again a bit more of the Cal and a bit less of the Exico but nothing wrong with that as this time round they've produced a far better album, actually by any standards they've come up with a pretty good album here.

To me the songs are much more consistent, really good this time, and the whole… more »

Of course every band has to move on and can't keep releasing the same stuff album after album but for me Calexico's last album ('Garden Ruin') just didn't seem to work at all. Unmistakably Calexico (but not as we know it Jim). So for the most part I found their last CD pretty disappointing, two or three gems but generally it didn't seem to flow, there was no strong vibe and it seemed a patchy and unrewarding listen compared to their previous albums.

This new CD has pretty much the same line up, again songs different to their older stuff so broadly similar feel to 'Garden Ruin', the omens aren't good then. Fortunately though it's much more of a return to sparkling top form. So once again a bit more of the Cal and a bit less of the Exico but nothing wrong with that as this time round they've produced a far better album, actually by any standards they've come up with a pretty good album here.

To me the songs are much more consistent, really good this time, and the whole album seems to flow better from track to track, a more complete listen. As usual there are some lovely subtle, memorable and gentle melodies and, of course, the album is again brilliantly produced. Great musicians at the top of their game, Joey Burns, what a star.

Whilst there is no 'Crystal Frontier' or 'World Drifts In' here as immediate standout songs, taken as a whole the album is a pleasure to listen to and the 45 minutes or so whizz by. 'Two Silver Trees', 'Writer's Minor Holiday' and 'House of Valparaiso' were tracks I went straight back to.

So if like me you found the last one a bit disappointing, take heart, this is a far better listen, a far better album in every respect. If you're checking out Calexico for the first time this is a fine album as it stands and well worth a try. If you're more sold on the "mariachi" stuff, delve back a couple of albums to 'Feast of Wire' or the completely brilliant DVD 'Calexico Live at the Barbican' (surely one of the best music DVDs ever released).

I'm not sure that this is their best album but it's certainly their most consistent, complete and well balanced album to date, what more could you hope for. I'm happy, recommended.