In keeping with our Spanish feel this week (thanks to Santa Esmeralda’s cover of “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood”), I decided to review Rodrigo y Gabriela’s recent release, “11:11.”
I covered Rodrigo y Gabriela in a past Weekly Album Release party here at EnterTheShell.com but had never heard their stuff until one fateful night while I was watching Conan O’Brien. I saw them perform on an episode (clicking on the second to last dot will put you at their performance) and was blown away by their guitar-work! Their Spanish/flamenco sound is refreshing and fuses their metal influence as well!
Believe it or not, these two were in a metal band but decided to connect with their roots and take on a Spanish sound, but the metal is not lost with these two. They are still heavily influenced by Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer among others.
“11:11” starts out by setting the pace immediately with “Hanuman.” Rodrigo y Gabriela’s sound not only takes on metal and Latin folk, but has a great dance aspect to it as well. This is very apparent in “Hanuman,” a song you can’t help but bob your head to.
“Buster Voodoo” is another highlight which begins with a great riff you wouldn’t be surprised to hear in a metal song. This is also the song they performed on Conan. What I love about this type of music is the way the hands are used to keep the beat while playing guitar. Though Gabriela is credited with rhythm guitar, that doesn’t make her job any easier than a solo. If you listen closely, you can hear every individual finger strum every single guitar string in between every guitar thump. Her rhythm-keeping with her fingers against her guitar is an art form in and of itself!
Rodrigo y Gabriela do a very good job at mixing things up as much as you can in order to bring together several styles. “Triveni” is another fast-paced Spanish track but the bridge slows down considerably and becomes something you’d hear during a commercial for Mexico. Or something you’d hear in the elevator of your hotel in Mexico. This track has a very dream-like sound in the middle. I’d say it’s a good song to mellow out to, but the pace picks up again and even incorporates vinyl scratching.
“Savitri” is another great song that mixes in several elements of other styles of music. This song is very conceptual as it takes you through a couple of rooms that provide a different sound in each. You begin with the Spanish guitar when a sound effect of a door is heard and you’re transported into a whole other room that is playing middle eastern music. The same acoustic guitars are used but bongos and melodies with a homophonic texture are added. The door opens again and we are back in a Spanish room. The song is another really great way we see Rodrigo y Gabriela show their talents and influences.
“Chac Mool” is another great track that even though it slows down the album, is very very pretty. Also, “Atman” has all the great flamenco influence, but an electric guitar solo is added on top of the acoustics in order to really give the listener a peek into their metal influences.
Finally, “11:11” closes the album in a nice way by showing a more traditional side of their music. Slow maracas, clapping and acoustic guitar melodies set a more leisurely pace and bring the excitement down in the perfect way to finish things up.
Rodrigo y Gabriela’s sophomore release in “11:11” is a surefire hit. Like Ratatat, Rodrigo y Gabriela are perfect for those times when you’re just over lyrics for whatever reason. Sometimes we just want to mellow out to some instrumentals and appreciate instruments in all their glory, right? Well, “11:11” accomplishes just that and gives you something not only great to listen to and appreciate, but gets you a little cultured as well!
Watch these videos and see them go to town on their guitars! I can’t even imagine how raw their fingers must be after shows. Gabriela is my hero!
“Hanuman” Live at Eurockeennes
“Buster Voodoo“
“Tamacun” Live at Eurockeennes
Buy the album at our record store on Amazon
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