At Work: Mapache

In the heart of cosmic folk, a place exists where melodies take on a timeless quality, transcending eras and echoing the past while still remaining fresh. It’s in this place that Mapache have firmly planted their musical flag. With five albums under their belt, Sam Blasucci and Clay Finch—the creative forces behind Mapache—capture the laid-back, sun-soaked sound of California in the ‘70s and channel that vibe into a set of modern songs that still possess a warm, nostalgic embrace.

With their latest offering, Swinging Stars, the duo—who have been making music together since high school, despite pursuing theology and academia for a time—have turned in their most cohesive album to date. The 14-track LP finds the two artists flowing from slow, melodic ballads to tight, syncopated arrangements held together by their ability to converse both lyrically and on their stringed instruments. The opening number, “Sentir,” written by Blasucci and sung in Spanish, a stylistic move the band have shown on past albums, knocks on the door with a respectful grace before unspooling golden strings of wisdom in any language: “Si lo voy a sentir/ Que lo senta todo/ En la quema del sol/ Es mi oración” or “I’m going to feel it/ That which everyone feels/ In the burning of the sun/ It’s my prayer.”

As the album continues to unfold, the musicians offer their perspectives on life and music in a balanced fashion—a co-written song here, followed by a Finch original there, back to an introspective and euphonious arrangement from Blasucci. Though they seem to have found a delicate balance in their creative output, the longtime friends are able to lean into their own styles more than ever before. And, on top of that, they allowed drummer and vocalist Steve Didelot to contribute to the tracklist with “Reflecting Everything.”

Their tenure with the popular Grateful Dead tribute act Grateful Shred and the extensive tours they’ve been part of with Allah-Lahs have helped forge a level of live prowess that adds an electrifying and unpredictable dimension to each of their shows. The enduring presence of Dan Horne, a constant creative force across albums spanning from 2017’s Mapache to 2022’s Roscoe’s Dream, is also a testament to their enduring musical journey. Regardless of the catalyst, Swinging Stars is a reflection of their shared artistic evolution.

“I didn’t always consciously try to draw from something in particular,” Blasucci says, when asked about how Mapache consistently makes the retro ‘70s feel new and exciting. “I think it just naturally comes out based on everything that’s coming in, all the music we’re listening to and all the art that we’re taking in otherwise. One big thing is to not think too much about it—just making sure you’re following your own intuition and you know what feels right.”