Years to Burn

Description

Calexico andIron & Wine first made an artistic connection with In the Reins, the2005 EP that brought Sam Beam, Joey Burns and John Convertino together. Theacclaimed collaboration introduced both acts to wider audiences and broadenedBeams artistic horizons, but it was the shared experience of touring togetherin the tradition of Bob Dylans Rolling Thunder Revue that cemented theirbond. Their metaphorical roads diverged in the years that followed, but theykept in touch and cross-pollinated where they could. But although they oftentalked about rekindling their collaboration in the studio and on the stage, itwasnt until last year that their schedules aligned.

Years toBurn cant help butbe different from In the Reins. Back then, Calexico entered the studiowith a long list of previous collaborations (first in Giant Sand, then backingthe likes of Victoria Williams and Richard Buckner) and the knowledge that theyloved Sams voice and his songs, but wondering if his material was so completeand self-contained that it lacked a way in, so hushed and delicate that itmight be overwhelmed. For his part, Beam had been intimidated by their virtuosicplaying and their deep comfort in an encyclopedic array of styles. In my mind,I was a guy who knew three chords and recorded in a closet, Sam says. Theywere playing big stages and were superb musicians.

Those fearswere dispelled quickly. Calexico was bowled over by Beams many talents: Thearranging, the writing, his sense of rhythm, the quality of his vocalsand thentheres the experimental side of Sam, Joey says. They were the perfect bandat the perfect time for me, Sam adds. I loved all their different sounds.Theyre musical anthropologists, not regurgitating but absorbing what theydiscover. Nearly 15 years on, coming back to the project has to do withacknowledging how much impact the first record had for me in my life.

Beam, Burns andConvertino reconvened in Nashville for four days of recording in December 2018.Nobody was keen to retread old ground. The change of venuefrom Calexicos homebase of Tucson, where In the Reins was trackedwas one part of theeffort. Together with Niehaus, veteran Calexico trumpet player Jacob Valenzuela andfrequent Beam cohorts Rob Burger (Tin Hat Trio) on piano and SebastianSteinberg (Soul Coughing, Fiona Apple) on bass, they settled in at the SoundEmporium, a fabled studio founded in the sixties by Cowboy Jack Clement and thesite of countless landmark sessions in country and rock over the ensuingdecades. Convertino got chills when he found a framed photo of R.E.M. on thewall: Document was recorded there.

Another addedingredient was engineer Matt Ross-Spang, whose recent resume includes producingMargo Prices Midwest Farmers Daughter, working with Memphis legendslike Al Green in the Sam Phillips studio thats now Ross-Spangs home turf, andwinning a Grammy for mixing Jason Isbells album Something More Than Free(another Sound Emporium project). Ross-Spang was assisted by RachelMoore; he sharesproduction credits with Beam, Burns and Convertino.

Beam wrote allthe songs for In the Reins. He took the lead again here, bringing fivesongs to the session, but Burns added one of his own in the end too. They tookdiffering approaches; Sam shared meticulous demos ahead of time and was readywith arrangement ideas and instrumental parts, while Joey spontaneous as ever,came in with concepts and an eagerness to improvise. Upon arriving inNashville, he also penned a tune.

Life is hard.Awesome. And scary as shit. But it can lift you up if you let it, Sam offers.These are the things Joey and I write about now. And the title can encapsulatea lot of things. Years to Burn could mean youre cocky, youve got it made.Or, our life is ours to burn, to be inspired. Or youre burned by life,brutalized. Its an ambiguous title, because life is complicated. Lets nottalk like teenagers about love, desire, pain, cause were not teenagers. Andthats not a bad thing.

This projecthad to find the right time, Joey concludes. Were all different people thanwe were in 2004, and music helps to bridge some of the gaps. For all the thingsgoing on in our world and in each of our lives, this connection, thisfriendship, this love that we havethis album is a vehicle for that bond. Itsa chance to see where were at, take stock and be there for our friends.

ANDERS SMITH LINDALL