Dante Schwebel is on the short list of underrated songwriters, a guy who effortlessly combines classic American pop and rock elements into a bright, immensely appealing sound. There were times with his old band, the excellent Hacienda, where his influences were more tattooed on his arms than worn on his sleeves, but it worked.
With Spanish Gold, Schwebel has teamed with Louisvillle’s Patrick Hallahan, of My Morning Jacket, and Adrian Quesada, late of Grupo Fantasma. It’s one of those blessed events where the mix of personalities and talents raises everyone’s game.
“South of Nowhere” began with a batch of songs Schwebel had written about growing up in Texas, but this is clearly a band album. Spanish Gold has its own kind of bounce, a result of Quesada’s command of Latin rhythms and American funk mixed with Hallahan’s love of soul, R&B and hip-hop. Schwebel’s influences dovetail seamlessly and it all just inexorably moves.
Everyone in Spanish Gold keeps busy — Schwebel is in City and Colour, Quesada never stops and My Morning Jacket has a new album nearly ready — so it seems unlikely that Spanish Gold will become a consistent priority. But as back-up plans go, this one is pretty stellar.
— Jeffrey Lee Puckett, The Courier-Journal
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