Calexico’s Joey Burns and John Convertino from Tucson, Arizona are set to return in 2022 with their luminous 10th studio album, El Mirador; a hopeful rock album with bluesy ruminations, and Latin American sounds, set for release on April 8. The record was written and recorded alongside long-time contributing band member Sergio Mendoza whose newly built home studio became a refuge for the band and reduced pandemic risks thus allowing the band to work more freely and creatively in the recording process.
The band have been going strong for over 30 years, sharing a deep love of jazz and rock. Their latest release will showcase a brighter side of the band, cutting through two years of pandemic fog with bursts of danceable optimism as well as influences from cumbia, mariachi and southwestern sounds.
Accompanying the announcement also comes a colourful animated music video for the album’s title track. In the video directed by Elefanto and Mero Estudio, we can see a journeyman traveling far and wide to find ‘el corazón’, or the heart.
Burns the singer and co-founder of Calexico stated that “El Mirador is dedicated to family, friends and community, The pandemic highlighted all the ways we need each other, and music happens to be my way of building bridges and encouraging inclusiveness and positivity. That comes along with sadness and melancholy, but music sparks change and movement.” Mendoza also said of the record “I’ve been playing with Calexico for about 15 years, and I admire Joey and John’s constant search for new sounds, After so many albums, I’m really proud we were able to achieve something so fresh together.”
The album will also feature vocals from Guatemalan singer-songwriter Gaby Moreno as well as Spanish rocker Jairo Zavala founding member of Spanish rock groups Vacazul and 3000 Hombres, two of the country’s biggest rock bands of the 90s. He can be heard on the fifth track “Cumbia Peninsula” bringing his signature bravado to the song. Calexico are also set to embark on a European tour starting in late April and running through till June visiting the UK on May 14 at the O2 Forum Kentish Town in London.
You can view the album artwork and tracklist below.
El Mirador Album Tracklist:
1. El Mirador
2. Harness The Wind
3. Cumbia Peninsula
4. Then You Might See
5. Cumbia del Polvo
6. El Paso
7. The El Burro Song
8. Liberada
9. Turquoise
10. Constellation
11. Rancho Azul
12. Caldera
