Feast of Wire

by Calexico

Overview

Feast of Wire does indeed offer a tantalizing array of sounds new and old from Calexico, including more pop-oriented takes on their already eclectic style as well as some different sonic twists. Though the album features plenty of the atmospheric interludes of their previous work -- such as the squelchy, piano-based "Stucco" and the cello- and pedal-steel-driven "Whipping the Horse's Eye" -- the overall feel of Feast of Wire is one of restraint and refinement. The album's longest song, the gorgeous, film noir/spaghetti western fusion "Black Heart," tops out at just under five minutes, and the vast majority of the tracks barely make it past the three-minute mark -- not enough time for experimentation to turn into self-indulgence. However, it feels like these shorter compositions have more impact: "Sunken Waltz" sketches a vignette of Southwestern despair with just acoustic guitar, brushed drums, accordion, and Joey Burns' papery vocals. Burns' voice plays a larger part on Feast of Wire than on previous Calexico albums, adding a humble charm to sweeping songs like "Quattro (World Drifts In)." Despite its seeming limitations, Burns' small, parched-sounding instrument is surprisingly versatile, lending a Dylan-like cast to the aforementioned "Black Heart" and a Dean Wareham-like drawl to the lilting Tex-Mex melody of "Across the Wire." Burns' vocals also dominate Feast of Wire's most uniquely accessible moments: "Stevie Nicks," a surprisingly, sunny bit of folk-rock, and the quiet, alt-country-ish "Woven Birds." But despite the steps forward Calexico makes on this album, the band still has time for their more traditional, instrumental-based music, exemplified here by "Dub Latina," "Pepita," and "Guero Canelo." The second half of Feast of Wire in particular sounds more like what you'd expect from a Calexico album, and the group touches on the different facets of that style, including the kitschy-cool "Attack el Robot! Attack," which with its crunchy drums and gurgling synths, does sort of sound like it could be from a Mexican sci-fi movie; the shuffling Latin beat, pedal steel, and mod horns on "Close Behind" give it a Morricone-meets-mariachi feel that makes it a quintessential Calexico track; and best of all, "Crumble" builds on the smoky, jazzy side of their sound that they began developing in earnest on The Hot Rail. In the hands of a lesser band, all the different sounds Calexico explore on Feast of Wire could result in a mish-mash of an album, but fortunately for them and their fans, it's one of their most accomplished and exciting efforts. ~ Heather Phares

Product Details

Release Date:	05/26/2023
Label:	City Slang / Quarterstick
UPC:	4250506845377
Rank:	40214

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Sunken Waltz
2. Quattro (World Drifts In)
3. Stucco
4. Black Heart
5. Pepita
6. Not Even Stevie Nicks...
7. Close Behind
8. Woven Birds

Disc 2

9. The The Book and The Canal
10. Attack El Robot! Attack!
11. Across The Wire
12. Dub Latina
13. Güero Canelo
14. Alone Again Or (Bonus Track)
15. Whipping The Horse's Eyes
16. Crumble
17. No Doze

Disc 3

18. Pepita
19. Across the Wire
20. Quattro
21. Dub Latina
22. Sunken Waltz
23. Not even Stevie Nicks
24. Woven Birds
25. Güero Canelo
26. Black Heart
27. Alone Again Or

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Calexico   Primary Artist
Paul Niehaus   Pedal Steel
John Convertino   Drums,Piano,Percussion
Joey Burns   Cello,Cuatro,Guitar,Vocals,Mandolin,Melodica,Accordion,Percussion,Pump Organ,Vibraphone,Bowed Banjo,Synthesizer,Bass (Upright),Orchestra Bells
Volker Zander   Bass (Upright)
Martin Wenk   Trumpet,Accordion,Bowed Vibes
Nick Luca   Piano,Vocals,Vibraphone,Synthesizer,Guitar (Electric)
Fernando Valencia   Violin
Craig Schumacher   Timpani,Trumpet,Synthesizer,Vocals (Background)
Jacob Valenzuela   Vocals,Trumpet
Jeff Marchant   Trombone
Ed Kay   Flute
Eddie Lopez   Button Accordion
Joseph Valenzuela   Violin,Trombone

Technical Credits

Paul Niehaus   Composer
John Convertino   Composer,Producer
Joey Burns   Composer,Producer,String Arrangements
Nick Luca   Mixing,Engineer,String Arrangements
Craig Schumacher   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Jacob Valenzuela   Composer
Jeff Marchant   Horn Arrangements
J.J. Golden   Mastering
Jim Blackwood   Mixing
Victor Gastelum   Cover Art