Pitchfork: Calexico Recording New Album

The desert is an unforgiving landscape littered with broken promises, outlaws, lonely nights, and damned souls which Calexico (vocalist Joey Burns and drummer John Convertino) continue to mine for their soundtracky compositions. They're currently recording their fifth full-length, to be released on Touch & Go in spring 2006. Some of the album's production has been done by J.D. Foster, who has worked with chanteuse Nancy Sinatra and alt-country stalwart Alejandro Escovedo. Of the as-yet untitled album, Burns told Billboard.com: "The songs have that moodiness and ambience, but there's also some more electric, rockin' numbers." Potential tracks include "Bisbee Blue", "All Systems Red", "Deep Down", and "Lucky Dime".

In other Calexico-related news, the band collaborated on a seven-song EP entitled Lays in Reins with Sam Beam of Iron & Wine fame. The EP is due out later this fall. Burns and Convertino also contributed to Neko Case's forthcoming album on Anti; now that we've put you in a receptive mood by mentioning Neko Case (works every time), please consider the following Calexico live dates:

07-14 New York, NY - Castle Clinton/Battery Park
07-16 Ottawa, Ontario - Cisco Systems Bluesfest
07-17 Quebec City, Quebec - Festival D'Ete International
07-20 Antwerp, Belgium - Rivierenhof
07-21 Duisburg, Germany - World Games Plaza
07-22 Lorrach, Germany - Marktplatz
07-23 Jacetano, Spain - El Pireneus del Sur Festival
07-27 Berlin, Germany - Popdeurope Festival
07-28 Wien, Austria - Jazzfest
07-29 Nurenberg, Germany - Bardentreffen
07-30 Feldkirch, Austria - Poolbar Festival
07-31 Roseto, Italy - Soundlab Festival
08-02 Alberobello, Italy - Experimenta Festival
08-03 Pula, Croatia - Open Air
08-05 Crete, Greece - Amphitheatre

href="http://pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/c/calexico/convict-pool.shtml">Calexico: Convict Pool EP
href="http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/news/05-06/03.shtml">Iron & Wine, Calexico Reveal Details of Collaborative LP