From time to time, bands from all over the indie world join hands and start a love train. Some pairings are unlikely (the fantabulous Britt Daniel from Spoon and the king of the wusses, Bright Eyes), and some seem almost preordained (noise-rockers Sonic Youth and noise-folkers Dirty Three).

But when bearded hushabye songster Sam Beam, who records under the name of Iron & Wine, and severely under-appreciated Spanglish act Calexico met up to record their new split EP, In the Reins, it ended up being the perfect match.

Apart, Iron & Wine songs can, at times, be a bit wimpy, and Calexico songs can, at times, be a bit weighed down by their mariachi-leanings. Blended together, though, it's sublime, with Beam's gift for impeccable melody propelled by Calexico's Southwestern rhythms.

Nowhere is this better evidenced than on opener "He Lays in the Reins," which finds your typical Beam track swallowed by steel guitars, snare drum and, eventually, a soaring verse en Español. Calexico's triumphant horn section ices the cake of "History of Lovers," and "Red Dust," which could've just been another Iron & Wine yuppie-blues jam, uncovers the missing link in the swampy organ groove the other band provides.

But the gem here is "Sixteen, Maybe Less," a mixed tape-staple-to-be that mines the best parts of '80's mall-madness chanteuse Tiffany and wistful departed-folkie Nick Drake.

A remembrance of first love from the view of decades past, "Sixteen, Maybe Less" is immaculate from the top down, and if there's been a better song from 2005, I don't think that I've heard it yet.

It's in good company on In the Reins -- a must-have.

--Reviewed by Paul Thompson