Algiers By Calexico
Artist: Calexico
Album: Algiers
Label: City Slang
OUT NOW
Rating: 4/5
Calexico make a triumphant return to the music scene this week with their sixth studio album release Algiers.
You could argue that Epic is quite a laid back start to the record but it is one of the best tracks on the album as there it is quite an atmospheric and moody track.
There is something quite mesmerising and almost cinematic about Epic as it has this rather understated energy that really captures your attention.
They pick up the pace with Splitter as they begin to explore some pop element - which is a bit of a new sound for them.
And we see pop feature on quite a few of the tracks including Para which is another quite atmospheric track.
The sound of the guitar is mixed beautifully with some great strings while the vocal is full and packed with emotion.
But the chorus is really where this track comes alive as the instrumentation swells and it packs more of a punch with the sound.
Hush is another of the pop tracks on the album but this couldn’t be more different from Para as it is a fantastic acoustic tracks.
And working acoustically is really a strong point for Calexico as it really shows off their great song-writing skills as well as a delicacy in the vocal that perhaps you don’t always hear.
There is a real calming feel to Hush and the music and the vocal really does wash over you and carry you away - it was one of my favourite tracks on the record.
But it is not all about a pop song as Sinner In The Sea sees them switch sound once again as there is a real Latin feel to this track - it is perhaps the sexiest songs on the record.
Similarly with the title track Algiers there is perhaps more of a jazz field as Calexico seem content to experiment with their sound to deliver something that we have never heard from them before.
Algiers is simply fantastic as it is purely an instrumental track as Latin, Jazz and electric guitar elements are all mixed together.
Algiers is arguably the most accessible album that Calexico has ever released but it is also the most accomplished - this really is an album not to be missed.
Calexico have experimented with many different sounds with this record as they have shown that they are versatile performers.
Calexico - Algiers is out now
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw