When Conor Oberst fled the mid-western winter for Tepoztlan, Mexico in early 2008, his plan was to record a collection of songs in beautiful surroundings with some friends. The band he put together for the recording sessions (all done in an adobe house half way up a mountain) was released last year as Conor Oberst, his first non-Bright Eyes release since 2001. The band then took to the road as Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band, named for Valle Mystico where the recording took place. In recording sessions in November and December 08 The Mystic Valley Band recorded 16 songs and this time they shared the songwriting. The result, the sparkling Outer South is the first album credited to Conor Oberst And The Mystic Valley Band and features the fruits of their enticing musical symbiosis. Oberst’s songwriting and delivery remain an engaging presence, but the addition of songs by Taylor Hollingsworth (guitar), Nik Freitas (guitar) and Jason Boesel (drums) make for a multi-textured and colorful collaboration. Along with Oberst, Hollingsworth, Freitas and Boesel, The Mystic Valley Band includes Macey Taylor (bass) and Nathaniel Walcott (piano/keyboard).