Sign up for our mailing list Real artists creating records on their own terms
Close

Sign up for our mailing list

News

Calexico To Release New Album "Edge of the Sun"
Tuesday, January 27th, 2015

Calexico To Release New Album "Edge of the Sun"

For the better part of two decades, the acclaimed band Calexico has crossed musical barriers, embracing a multitude of styles, variety in instrumentation, and well-cultivated signature sounds. With their forthcoming record Edge of the Sun, out April 14th, they take inspiration from a trip to a place surprisingly unexplored by the band before in Mexico City, and with the benefit of many friends and comrades to help guide the way.

The first outside invitation came when the band’s Joey Burns was writing the track “Bullets and Rocks” and recognized space for a former Calexico collaborator. “When putting vocals on that song, it immediately reminded me of the Iron & Wine feel,” says Burns. “So I texted Sam (Beam), who wrote back quickly and got it going.”

Encouraged by the experience, the guest list grew to include Ben Bridwell (Band of Horses), Nick Urata (Devotchka), Carla Morrison, Gaby Moreno, Amparo Sanchez, multi-instrumentalists from the Greek band Takim, and Neko Case. Burns’ brother John Burns lent a hand to some lyrics and songwriting, and the band’s keyboardist, Sergio Mendoza, stepped up to co-write and arrange certain songs, ultimately co-producing the album along with Burns, John Convertino, and longtime associate Craig Schumacher.

“Going to another city to jumpstart the creative process helped us to know what this record is about and where we are as a band, like an open canvas with few ties to normal routines when recording and writing,” says Burns.

Initially expecting for the world of Calexico to mesh with the sounds and vibe of Mexico City and take on varied overt Latin influences, Burns and cohort John Convertino were amazed when they left the country with some of their poppiest songs to date. Album opener “Falling from the Sky” is earnestly straightforward in its rafter-reaching approach, while songs such as the electronica “Cumbia de Donde” and the cinematic swell of “Coyoacán” were more direct results of the foreign experience and the type of lessons that can only be realized upon reflection.

Listen to the first track "Cumbia de Donde" via Pitchfork: http://pitchfork.com/news/58231-calexico-announce-new-album-edge-of-the-sun-share-cumbia-de-donde/

Negotiating borders and the spaces within, then inviting others inside those edges: may be the recipe for Calexico’s success. As its empire expands and the familiar pieces join with fresh ideas and a new cohort to pass under wires and across fields and time, the band now finds itself here in 2015 on the solar precipice, navigating the edge and trying to find hope in that balance of darkness and light.

“The ‘edge of the sun’ could be coming from the direction of darkness seeking light, or riding the line between both,” says Burns. All in all, this album is about pushing through the blue to brighter days. Calexico has always had that element of hope, going back and forth between a positive outlook and embracing desperate or dark themes that I think we all share.”

Browse by Artist

2082All Artists 99Tom Waits 73Mavis Staples 59Neko Case 51Lost In The Trees 50Sean Rowe 48Dr. Dog 45The Milk Carton Kids
41Jolie Holland 40Bettye LaVette 37Man Man 36Son Little 35Tinariwen 33Tim Fite 33DeVotchKa 31Islands 31Grinderman 29Glen Hansard 28Saintseneca 27Galactic 27Wilco 26Andy Shauf 25Delicate Steve 25The Drums 24Xenia Rubinos 24Michael Franti and Spe... 22Doe Paoro 22Bob Mould 22William Elliott Whitmo... 21Nick Cave & The Bad Se... 21The Frames 20Joe Henry 20Christopher Paul Stell... 19Cass McCombs 19Yves Jarvis 19Booker T. Jones 19Sage Francis 18Calexico 18Deafheaven 18Gary V 17John K. Samson 17Yann Tiersen 16The Antlers 16Jason Lytle 16Danny Elfman 16Ramblin Jack Elliott 14Jeremy Ivey 14Daniel Lanois 13The Dream Syndicate 13Madi Diaz 13Billy Bragg 12Leyla McCalla 12Xavier Rudd 12Combo Chimbita 12Peter Silberman 12Girlpool 11The Weakerthans 11Ryan Pollie 11Lyrics Born 11Rain Machine 11Roky Erickson 11Glitterer 11Purr 11Jade Jackson 11Mose Allison 10Alfa Mist 10So Much Light 10The Melodic 10The Swell Season 10Darrin Bradbury 10Half Waif 10High Pulp 9Wynonna 9M. Ward 9Curtis Harding 9Cameron Avery 9N.A.S.A. 9Josiah Johnson 9Marianne Faithfull 9Moor Mother 9Lido Pimienta 9Hey, King! 8Katy Kirby 8Greg Graffin 8Kate Davis 8Christian Lee Hutson 8Slow Pulp 8The Coup 8Solillaquists of Sound 8Cadence Weapon 7Ben Harper 7Richard Reed Parry 7Kelly Hogan 7Elliott Smith 7Ben Harper and Charlie... 7Title Fight 7Alec Ounsworth 7Eddie Izzard 7Beth Orton 7Japandroids 7Dead Man's Bones 6Bonny Doon 6Os Mutantes 6Broken Twin 6Rafiq Bhatia 6Busdriver 6Deradoorian 6A Girl Called Eddy 6Kate Bush 5Keaton Henson 5Foxwarren 5James Brandon Lewis 5Scott McMicken and THE... 5Beat Connection 5The Tallest Man On Ear... 5One Day As A Lion 5The Field 5Jasmyn 5Kristine Leschper 5Art Moore 5Ezra Furman 4Marketa Irglova 4The Good Ones 4Ersi Arvizu 4Jackson+Sellers 4Sparklehorse 4sunking 4Pops Staples 3MJ Lenderman 3Danny Cohen 3Walter Wolfman Washing... 3Plains 3Mavis Staples & Levon... 3Mothers 3Sierra Leones Refugee... 3Marc Ribot 3Waxahatchee 3Petra Haden 2Various Artists: RANGO 2Fleet Foxes 2Sam Akpro 2Jeff Tweedy 2ANTI- Records 1Youth Group 1Merle Haggard 1Solomon Burke 1Taylor Vick 1Simian Mobile Disco 1Various Artists: ROGUE... 1case/lang/veirs 1Joe Strummer And The M... 1Rogue's Gallery 1The Locust 1Tricky 1Antibalas 1Kronos Quartet with Br... 1Porter Wagoner 1Blackalicious 1Lightman Jarvis Ecstat...
See Full List+