There is something both earthy and spacey at the heart of El Capitan`s music. What more could you expect from a band whose members are influenced by such divers talents as Mississippi John Hurt, Terry Allen and Lalo Schfrin. These sources offer a mere hint at the eclectic, yet uniquely cohesive sound this group manages. Outwardly though, El Capitan seems to fill a gap between Wilco`s pop savvy and Clem Snide`s indie-rock quirkiness. However, at times you`d swear this were a quintet of hillbillies who`ve stumbled across some rock instruments, contrasting the fact that they are a San Francisco Bay Area based group. The band, self-admittedly, finds great strength in lyrics that flow off the tongue rather than those with focused meaning. That works well for listener appeal and leaves room for varied interpretation. Heck, it worked for Lennon. Recorded the good old-fashioned way - live analog to tape - What Ails You captures the band in all their mystic and organic glory. -- Robinson, Miles Of Music (self-released)
