The things you find in a box…no, honestly this album by Tucson quartet – and I feel justified in calling them a quartet rather than a band given the excellence of their musical skills – The Missing Parts was found in the bottom of a box that had crossed the Atlantic by means unknown.
Let’s be clear here. “Sueños” is an album for those with mature musical tastes and a sense of adventure. For a start, the instruments used here are entirely acoustic – cello, violin, guitar and lap steel – and they are used with rare skill and dexterity. As for their musical influences, listen in wonder as Ry Cooder sonically collides with Michael Nyman in “Magmatic Forces” and Vivaldi goes all gypsy romantic in “Phantom Community”. It is the kind of album that demands your attention just in case you miss something important or indeed one of those cheeky traditional musical references that the band seem rather fond of.
Admittedly, the performances tend towards the studious rather than the emotional but nonetheless it is impossible to argue with the quality of the musicianship. “Sueños“ is truly an album more than worthy of the attention of your ears.
Incidentally, this quartet has collaborated with the wondrous singer Cathy Rivers (she chain smoked her way into my heart a long time ago…). I’d like to hear the results of that meeting of magnificence.
The album is available from CD Baby amongst other places.