Calexico: Rootless Freedom Fuels Edge of the Sun

Calexico's latest album, "Edge of the Sun," showcases a dynamic return to form, invigorated by a diverse array of collaborators including Neko Case and Sam Beam. The album opens with the striking "Cumbia de Donde," a track that, with its insistent synth and syncopated rhythms, suggests a sonic bridge connecting South and North America.

Thematically, "Edge of the Sun" delves into concepts of origins and destinations, questioning "where are you from?" and "where are you going?" This exploration of rootlessness and restlessness, a guiding principle for Joey Burns and Jon Convertino since the early 1990s, imbues the music with a sense of freedom and possibility.

While Calexico has often integrated world music, they do so not to exoticize, but as a core framework for their songs. "Edge of the Sun" demonstrates this thoughtfully, offering a revitalized soundscape that reconsiders their past and unearths new musical avenues, a welcome departure from the perceived creative stagnation of their 2012 album, "Algiers."