On the 3rd April, 2006 one of our top albums of the year will be released by an American band that refuses to release a bad record, and seems to improve with age. How do I know this? Well I’ve just been listening to Calexico’s latest album, GARDEN RUIN that is so special it hurts…

In fact the past week has revealed some excellent new releases from acts such Morrisey and The Flaming Lips, but this one has the ‘X factor.’ Opener Cruel is a gentle, rolling alt-country song that is crammed with special vocal and instrumental moments, including a bass vibe that adds a dark sub-text to proceedings. It’s a stunning opener that leads onto another cracker in the shape of the beautiful, stripped-down Yours And Mine. The first trio of glorious tracks is completed by the hyper-melodic, string soaked emo of Bisbee Blue. And that’s just for openers…

Panic Open String sustains the understated emotional pull of this album with a song that introduces a female vocal to partner the male vocal. The resulting duo performances is musical magic, and is taken to even greater heights with the most original instrumental arrangement, and a string close that is as moving as they come. Letter To Bowie Knife leads you up a glacially-paced route before it breaks cover with rampant drums and guitars to create the most epic of rock vibes. Superb! The brilliant, dark Latin muse of Roka (Danzo De La Muerte) adds the tasty spice of diversity to the collection, but it’s the final song All Systems Red that nails this album as something extra special. It opens with a whispered vocal accompanied by the most subtle of guitar rhythms, and all at snail’s pace. But I felt the threat of a climax coming on, and sure enough the song starts to build gradually to one of the most spine-tingling, extended crescendos I’ve ever heard. It has to be heard to be believed, and will shake you emotionally – I promise you.

The other night, we recorded a studio radio session and so good is this album that we played both the opening and closing tracks. This is without any shadow of a doubt Calexico’s greatest musical achievement, and I suspect will come to be regarded as an alt-country classic. And that’s why you simply must own this supreme album, and when you do will not stop playing it – ever.

5/5