In the Reins

I have fairly mixed feelings about this album; when it works it really works (Broken Bed, In the Reins) but a lot of it just falls a little flat for me, with calexico muddying Beam's signature sparse arrangements. What I find most interesting about it, though, is the influence it seems to have had on both bands.

For Iron & Wine it seems like a natural step, the career standout Woman King EP had already introduced many of the elements on show here (albeit in significantly more refined form), although the smoky jazz atmosphere is something new. I can hardly wait to see what direction Beam will take next, especially given that he can incorporate new sounds and textures, while retaining the unique character which makes his songs special.

Calexico, however, seem to have taken the collaboration on board hook, line and sinker. Their Garden Ruin album is less Calexicoey than ever, with a lack of the instrumentals which made earlier albums such a pleasure. One can only imagine that Joey Burns was struck with a little songwriter envy on being let loose in the Sam Beam song storeroom. Moving on, and incorporating new elements into music is a great thing (heck, I'm even a fan of Modulate), and don't get me wrong the songs on Garden Ruin are mostly pretty great. I simply think it would be a shame to lose the individual voice that was so evident earlier on.