Calexico and Iron & Wine - Years To Burn (Album Review)
Thursday, 20 June 2019
Written by Milly McMahon
‘Years To Burn’ is the second collaborative project shared between the heavenly creative pairing of Calexico and Iron & Wine, following 14 years after their joint EP ‘In The Reins’.
The short form album—only eight tracks—is meditative from its first play, with the opener What Heaven's Left bestowing a sense of peace that evolves with subtle elegance throughout each subsequent song.
Reflective of the artists’ mutual appreciation for one another's talents, ‘Years To Burn’ blends vintage Americana sounds with a relaxed, sepia-tinged folk aesthetic.
Moving with grace and enduring style, blending brass, strings and subtle bass, it resonates with masterful instrumental command and an overarching poetic vision. Crafted to last, this beautiful album has the capacity to be ageless.
The title track is a waltz, textured like an acrylic painting, bursting with colour and charged with a percussive mood. Meanwhile, The Bitter Suite (made up of the movements Pajaro, Evil Eye and Tennessee Train) interrupts the ambling journey of the album to introduce an exotic twist of Latin American instrumentals and Spanish language vocals.
Switching suddenly back to Iron & Wine’s ruminative narratives after five minutes of furtive tempos, this uprising commands the listener’s attention and draws focus to a 'blink and you’ll miss it' element to the LP, with gems hidden throughout.
Transitioning from darkness to light with ease and finesse, we feel like onlookers as something monumental unfolds here, boasting a confident brilliance. ‘Years To Burn’ is an atmospheric masterpiece that grows over time with a sort of perpetual complexity. A project designed to suit the temperaments of each respective artist, it’s an original piece of art that commands respect.
Calexico and Iron and Wine Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Thu September 26 2019 - BIRMINGHAM Iron City
Mon November 18 2019 - EDINBURGH Usher Hall
Tue November 19 2019 - LIVERPOOL Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Wed November 20 2019 - MANCHESTER Bridgewater Hall
Thu November 21 2019 - COVENTRY Warwick Arts Centre
Sat November 23 2019 - LONDON Royal Festival Hall
Sun November 24 2019 - BEXHILL ON SEA De La Warr Pavilion
We don't run any advertising! Our editorial content is solely funded by lovely people like yourself using Stereoboard's listings when buying tickets for live events. To keep supporting us, next time you're looking for concert, festival, sport or theatre tickets, please search for "Stereoboard". It costs you nothing, you may find a better price than the usual outlets, and save yourself from waiting in an endless queue on Friday mornings as we list ALL available sellers!
.jpg)
