Borders y Bailes in Bloomington, MN

Los Texmaniacs started life as a Tex-Mex purist's dream, a conjunto duo comprised simply of Max Baca (vocals, bajo sexto) and La Tropa F's David Farias (vocals, accordion). For BORDERS Y BAILES, their first for Smithsonian-Folkways, they have expanded the lineup to include Oscar Garcia on bass and Lorenzo Martinez on drums. It's still the same stripped-down, infectious conjunto tejano sound, however, Baca's 12-string bajo pumping and pushing Farias's accordion fills to ever more danceable highs as bass and drum lock in the basic beat. Conjunto master accordionist Flaco Jiminez also makes an appearance on this lively, cantina-like debut. BORDERS Y BAILES isn't as commercial as other tejano recordings in a highly glutted market, but it's highly accessible nonetheless.