Eastern-bloc Mariachi folk rock -- a head-spinning synthesis of genres. Male vocals somewhere between Roy Orbison and Stephin Merritt. Outstanding musicianship and creativity. In moments evocative of Calexico, Tindersticks, the Magnetic Fields’ “i” album, and Tim Buckley... plus, I’m sure, a slew of Eastern bloc, Greek, Polka, and Mariachi bands I’ve never heard. Accordion, trumpet, tuba, upright bass, and violin along with vocals, guitar, and percussion. Gentle, friendly, and playful with a few splashes of noise and danger - and all delightfully lovely and strange. Third album by this mostly-acoustic Denver quartet. No FCCs. Start with 1, 2, 10, 12.

==> 1. Strummed acoustic guitar plus weary & sad but strong vocals. “You said you loved me.” Fades.
==> 2. Starts loud. Higher energy, electric guitars, and cowboy whistling. The Smiths meet Ennio Moricone on a Greek island. Ends quickly.
3. Very short, ghostly instrumental (about 22 seconds).
4. Starts with percussion and then tuba. Bossa-nova-like rhythm. Ends with long tuba note.
5. Starts with organ playing a repetitive figure. Minimal and distinctive.
6. Accordion-centric instrumental, with strings, bells, percussion, and tuba.
7. Mariachi horns and acoustic guitars. Happy & perky. Ends with ringing chord.
8. Quiet, lullaby-like music with soaring vocals for a love lament.
9. Starts with marching snare, then accordion, to full band. Dark, oom-pah, polka-mariachi.
==> 10. Toy piano & plucked strings & sleepy vocals... sounds almost like an outtake from The Magnetic Fields’ “i” album. Instrumental breaks with western guitar and castanets.
11. Trippy & strange beginning converts to dark acoustic rock with French vocals.
==> 12. Wet, arpeggio guitar and sleepy vocals. Warm & cozy & irresistibly sad. A few splashes of children’s laughter in the middle. Ends with a toneless slap of muted guitar strings.
13. Cinematic, tense, and alien instrumental. Starts mid-slow and speeds up like a Greek dance about 90 seconds in. Keeps getting faster, then snaps back to a moderate pace... and speeds up again. Gets quieter and slower for a quiet, spooky ending.
14. Fades in with swelling strings. A short instrumental denouement.