Escondido: The Ghost of Escondido

Escondido’s The Ghost of Escondido has all the trappings of a classic. They incorporate complementary influential touchstones like Ennio Morricone and traditional Nashville and the whole is undoubtedly satisfying. However, there are times when The Ghost of Escondido just feels a few shades too hollow. While it’s difficult to directly translate passion to the dusky Americana genre, seeing as how it relies so heavily on an easygoing atmosphere, Escondido does manage to show searing flashes of life throughout the record. Conversely, that makes the lifeless moments that much emptier.

When The Ghosts of Escondido is on, it’s strikingly beautiful and impossible to turn away from. These moments are helped along by flawless production that lends the record a sense of delicate uncertainty. While Escondido doesn’t maintain the level of mastery that they’re capable of on every track, there’s no reason to think they’re not completely capable of it.