Rodrigo y Gabriela

Rodrigo y Gabriela
Label: ATO
Length: EP
Rated: NONE
Release Date: 2006-02-19
Media: CD
Format: Album
WorkNameSort: Rodrigo y Gabriela
Rodrigo y Gabriela

Rodrigo y Gabriela (ATO) A lovely young couple from Mexico â?¦ no, wait. They’re Mexican and they met in Mexico, but got their big break in Ireland, thanks to Damien Rice. OK. Let’s start over. This lovely young Mexican couple from Dublin are acoustic musicians â?¦ hold on again. You’re thinking what I was. Flamenco, right? Well, not exactly. They were both in heavy metal bands before this, and aside from the nylon strings on their guitars and the fact that nobody sings, they have little in common with Paco de Lucia. So, again from the top. This lovely young Mexican couple who busked their way into Damien Rice’s heart by dishing up muscular and melodic instrumental tracks on acoustic guitars â?¦ wait. You’re thinking they’re a novelty act, aren’t you? Like Apocalyptica in Barcelona or something? No. This John Leckie-produced disc is ‘ despite the presence of covers of ‘Stairway to Heavenâ?� and Metallica’s ‘Orionâ?� ‘ a thrilling and highly emotional album with diverse influences. The intricately structured parts played by these two guitarists do evoke their Hispanic heritage, but the compositional touches also include bits of metal bombast, chiming Brit-pop and pure instrumental virtuosity. Ferocious freakouts like ‘PPAâ?� and ‘Diablo Rojoâ?� are modulated by more reserved numbers like ‘Satori,â?� but the general sense that Rodrigo and Gabriela convey here is one of tactile energy and excitement. It’s a shame that more traditional ‘rockâ?� acts aren’t capable of doing the same.

This article appears in Oct 11-17, 2006.