Rodrigo y Gabriela – 11:11
Reviewed by Sadie O., 10/1/09
Brilliant acoustic guitar duo, more Nuevo Flamenco than anything, but definitely skewed. The couple started in a thrash metal band in Mexico City, then moved to Ireland and came up with virtuoso Spanish guitar. The fact that both Strunz and Farah and Alex Skolnick of Testament put in guest appearances reinforces this rather unexpectable duality. Despite being almost entirely acoustic guitars and bits of hand percussion, there’s a huge amount of energy (play it loud!) – and the musicianship is just absurdly ridiculous – it’s nuts, like don’t even talk to me about it, sheesh.
All instrumentals! No FCCs! All astounding; I like 2 and 10 best.
1. 3:43 ***spirited Nuevo Flamenco, upbeat and energetic. Some ridiculously fast guitar work, deadly accurate yet with great spunk and swing.
2. 4:24 ****dedicated to Jimi, and you can tell – not because it’s noisy, but it picks up some of his chords and combos nicely. This has eyes like a snake – don’t know how else to describe it… Some crazy wah-wah, too.
3. 3:56 ***starts with handdrum fade in, then sweet (but crazy fast) guitar with the flavor of mojito. Suddenly goes all sweet and mellow and relaxed, then back to hand percussion and sweet heat.
4. 2:51 **single low-key guitar modulating from major to minor chords, every so pretty, but still reminds me a bit of early Metallica. Flows right into next track.
5. 4:03 ***fast and swingy with some fine hand percussion and moments of something like wah-wah. Inspired by a jazz pianist.
6. 5:06 ***low-key but insidious mass of acoustic guitar – feat. Strunz and Farah, so you have 4 guitars in perfect synch. Shamelessly good.
7. 3:47 ***more energetic and gorgeous Nuevo Flamenco. Switches off midway through and turns into something darker and stranger.
8. 5:25 ***steady 4/4 beat with guitars running rings around everything. Dunno how they get that cool wah-wah sound. Ends a bit early.
9. 1:51 **slow and quiet, deep – refers to the sculptures commonly thought to be sacrificial Aztec altars (if that helps any…) Flows into next track.
10. 5:51 ****fast and energetic Nuevo Flamenco, sweet notes. Gets muffled and foreboding halfway through, builds back up, features gnarly electric guitar by Alex Skolnick (Testament) in last two minutes.
11. 4:50 **shuffles and very subdued guitar strums, flamenco clapping. Dark, brooding, seductive. Bit of deep magento piano at end.