Calexico / Iron & Wine

Iron and Wine’s Sam Beam first talked with Calexico’s Burns and Covertino about collaborating in 2001. Originally Beam wanted the two to play as his backup band on the debut Iron and Wine album. But Calexico was busy producing the album Feast of Wire. Both groups continued with their own projects, but decided to enter the studio together in December of 2004. The result is the seven-track EP In the Reins. The CD blends the best of both groups, featuring Beam’s wispy voice, emotional depth and sense of melody with Calexico’s rich instrumentation and harmonies.