No one excels at encapsulating the complexity of romantic emotions in a tragically beautiful, raw, and addictive way like Cigarettes After Sex does. With the release of ‘Tejano Blue’ on February 28th, the Texan trio inaugurates its new musical era as a prelude to its long-awaited forthcoming studio album X, which is set to be brought to the world on July 12th, 2024.
The term ‘Tejano‘, as mentioned in the song’s title, is commonly referred to as ‘Tex-Mex music‘, and is a musical genre that is primarily rooted in Texas and Mexico. It fuses Mexican and US-American vocal and musical elements and combines them with European — especially German and Czech — dance rhythms. Having grown up in El Paso, the song title is therefore also a reference to the childhood of frontman and songwriter Greg Gonzalez and his journey of rediscovering and finally connecting with the tunes that surrounded him during his adolescence.
Light, as if floating on a cloud, ‘Tejano Blue‘ paints a dreamy and calming soundscape. Embraced by the gentle, feather-light, and soft voice of Gonzalez, the listener is immersed in the story of an ardent romance. Through imagistic lyrics, the air is filled with a desire for intimacy and a burning passion for a love so strong that it transcends time. Phrases such as “f*ck like all the time‘‘ and “ make you part of my life forever“ suggest the longing for a deep, permanent, and authentic connection that weaves physical intimacy with a sense of devotion and commitment towards a partner. Lyrics like “And when you drag me on the floor / And the blue tejano’s on / You keep your eyes on me“ are an autobiographical reference to Gonzalez’s connection with Tejano music, and emphasise the story’s narrative of a passionate slow-burn romance. Furthermore, there is an underlying tone of nostalgia throughout the whole track, evoked by lyrical references to past moments between the couple, which serves to accentuate the impact of shared memories on the protagonists’ present relationship. The recourse to sensuality and sensory imagery as stylistic key elements demonstrates the atmospheric and emotive nature of the song and builds a bridge to the inner world of the narrator.
The impact of Tejano music is clearly noticeable, as the tempo of the song is slightly livelier than the band’s usual work. However, the characteristic sentimental calmness and sensual melancholy that make Cigarettes After Sex music so unique, are still prominent. The combination of the dreamy tone, gauzy atmosphere, Gonzalez‘ tender voice, and soft guitar sounds make ‘Tejano Blue‘ a delicate and timeless love song.
With the release of the track, Cigarettes After Sex also announced their new album X, which is supposed to move away from the prior sonic measure of the 50s and 60s towards 70s and 80s slow dance music. Moreover, the upcoming record is promised to be a deeply personal observation of one relationship. Gonzalez explains: ‘‘The record feels brutal. I could sit and talk about this loss to someone, but that wouldn’t scratch the surface. I have to really write about it, sing about it, have the music, and then I can start to analyse and learn from it. Or just relive it — in a good way. I don’t have that Eternal Sunshine-thing of wanting to forget.“ Furthermore, the band will be embarking on a world tour starting this fall.
Written by: Vanessa Svejkovsky
Edited by: Marieke Weeda
