ALBUM REVIEW: Calexico And Iron & Wine – Years To Burn

City Slang

Released: 14.06.19

Fifteen years after they last recorded and toured together, Years To Burn finds Calexico and Iron & Wine working together again, and they’ve brought out the best in each other. Recent albums by both have failed to make an impression, but Years To Burn is really quite lovely.

Sam Beam has always had a warm, rich voice that works well with Calexico’s Joey Burns. There are some gorgeous arrangements here – splashes of brass, of slide guitar and feedback – and the whole album has a balmy, sun-dappled, Laurel Canyon vibe that works surprisingly well, especially on Father Mountain and closer In Your Own Time. If centrepiece The Bitter Suite channels Crosby, Stills & Nash a little too closely, by the end of its rather epic eight minutes, you don’t mind.