In today’s music world, there are very few artists who are capable of combining both transcendent lyrics and ambient sounds in the right fashion to create a moving scene of music and mysticism in an album that can stand the test of time.

Sometimes it’s the subtle sounds that make an album stand out. The light piano can only be heard during a half-second break in the rest of the instruments and vocals. A simple chord progression over a bass line or an almost inaudible tap on a snare.

Sometimes, it’s the dominating sounds which complete a song. Rumbling bass lines and cymbal crashes over vocals just scream for attention.

In the case of Calexico/Iron and Wine, it’s a combination of both worlds which lead to perfection over and over again.

Sam Beam’s vocals play off the ease of the sounds the backing band produces and allows the ebb and flow of the album to continue through the seven songs, with just the right amount of experimentation.

On the closer “Dead Man’s Will,” Beam begins the song by counting off in a light voice while tapping his guitar and the track encompasses a light orchestral sound of vocals and instruments from the beginning. The song is as close to perfect as perfect can get.

In the light-tempo, easy come, easy go world of Calexico/Iron and Wine, “In the Reins” is a trip through life in slow motion, a gauntlet of emotions and desires thrown at the listener and a moving experience all together.