Hot Carne Seca
Jalopy, 2026
8/10
The New Mexico outfit, Lone Piñon, brings their acoustic ways to these authentic and cultured 11 songs.
“Polka Problematica” opens with Karina Wilson’s animated violin alongside Santiago Romero’s warm guitar, and “El Tecolote” follows with plenty of rhythm via the strings and guitar, as the expressive vocals enter with much grace.
In the middle, “Cataclismo” is a soft moment of beauty, where Tanya Nunez’s agile bass won’t go unnoticed, while “Viva Albuquerque” offers a polka fueled album highlight that’s got an infectious energy.
“Pecos Polka” and “Nochecita” exit the listen. The former blends the rich instrumentation with playful picking and a festive mood, and the latter makes great use of Jordan Wax’s skilled accordion amid the group vocals.
An enlightening album full of polka, bolero and waltz ideas, Lone Piñon make for a cross cultural experience like few others.
Travels well with: The Clover Valley Boys- The Clover Valley Boys; The Down Hill Strugglers- Old Juniper