Album Review: Spanish Gold - South Of Nowhere

Ever wonder what would happen if you combined the talents of the guitarists from City & Colour and Brownout with My Morning Jacket's drummer and The Black Keys' producer? Spanish Gold is your answer, and their debut record South Of Nowhere is a funky, soulful compilation.

Inspired by Laredo, the Texas border town where guitarists Dante Schwebel and Adrian Quesada grew up, the album is embedded with electric riffs and heavy bass lines – an apt homage to the frenetic spirit of a dangerous city marred by drug-cartel, gangland warfare.

Opener One Track Mind sounds like a Black Keys spin-off, but considering two of Spanish Gold's members (Patrick Hallahan and Dante Schwebel) supported The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach on his solo tour, it's no surprise. The title track follows: a gripping tale of a desperate man, bolstered by a tension-building beat.

Middle track Day Drinkin sports a befitting name for a melodic number that should be listened to poolside, with a margarita in hand. And lead single Out On The Street manages to relate the dangers of living on the US/Mexican border in the form of a very danceable tune.

On its first spin you'll notice that South Of Nowhere has an easy and genuine groove to it. Second time around you might take in more of the dark, lyrical storytelling. And by the third you'll be wishing you could splice a few other bands together to form a sound as smooth as Spanish Gold's.