Texicali

Description

TexiCali, the new album by Grammy-winning Dave Alvin and Grammy-nominated Jimmie Dale Gilmore, continues to bridge the distance between the respective bases of the two troubadours, California (Alvin) and Texas (Gilmore). The geographical theme reflects Alvin's repeated trips to record in central Texas with Gilmore and the Austin-based backing band that has toured with the duo in recent years. As Alvin states in the liner notes, these road trips influenced the music they made on TexiCali. The 11 songs on this double LP also connect their shared penchant for a wide range of American musical forms. Gilmore is primarily known for his left-leaning country music, while Alvin's compass mainly points toward old-school blues. But there is much ground to cover beyond these foundations, and both artists are also well-known for transcending genre boundaries. It is therefore not surprising that they infused TexiCali with cosmic folk narratives, deep R&B grooves, and even swinging reggae rhythms.