Fast. Sultry. Exotic. Classical. Latin. The genius of duo Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela Quintero is more than obvious on their album of dancing strings. And while you may have a hard time placing the Latino sound on the streets of Dublin, that’s exactly where you’ll find these two. I wandered the streets often during my stint in Ireland, always looking at faces and listening for new sounds. On Grafton Street at Christmas time, I heard the singing strings from two traveling musicians whose sound quickened the heartbeat. The flamenco feel of Rodrigo y Gabriela might seem out of place in an Irish pub, but with Guinness in hand, you’ll know that’s why you traveled to the UK.
The pair received their first big break when Damien Rice approached them to play with him on his tour in 2005. 11:11 is their third album. Their self-titled second album topped the Irish albums charts. Rodrigo y Gabriela sported several covers including Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” and Metallica’s “Orion,” and demonstrating their range from flamenco to jazz to metal. One listen to the jam sessions and you can tell they love what they are doing and they do it with a passion. The speed with which these two play off of each other truly inspires awe. You can imagine them being twins or sharing some sort of telepathic communication to have fingers moving so madly and yet so in sync.
The second track on the new album, “Buster Voodoo” is a rich song. It’s a treasure trove that encompasses an array of complex sounds composed out of simple strings. There is one part in particular where the strings actually sound like words and lyrics. And the words are telling you: feel, dance, move, break out of whatever box you are in. And yes, the song is nodding it’s appreciation to Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Chile.” “Logos” is slow and steady; it’s a short, melancholy and slightly remorseful track. It poses questions in its silence. “Logos” fakes emotion; it doubts itself; it’s lost at a party; it’s all the things you feel on a lonely Saturday night.
The flawless rhythm and intense arrangement of “Master Maqui” give this song a lighter and gentler feel. The guitar strings sound more feminine and feel prettier than they have on the previous tracks, almost as if the guitars are changeable characters in the band that bring their own temperament. The guitars vacillate on each track from light and beautiful to heavy and masculine, from angsty teenage rage to the softness of young love, and onward to the pounding heart of a revolution. Rodrigo y Gabriela actually understand that each guitar has a tale to tell. “Atman” takes all the flamenco out of the equation and shows you what the duo are capable of with a more eastern feel. They reach to Asia all the way from Ireland and take hold of something rich and bring it back for your listening pleasure.
This album is well crafted, perfectly executed, rich in sound, entrenched in talent, and worthy of several listens at the very least. It’s sophisticated, diverse, and articulate without saying a word.
Track List:
1. Hanuman (3:38)
2. Buster Voodoo (4:22)
3. Triveni (3:53)
4. Logos (2:51)
5. Santo Domingo (4:00)
6. Master Maqui (5:03)
7. Savitri (3:45)
8. Hora Zero (5:22)
9. Chac Mool (1:51)
10. Atman (5:48)
11. 11:11(4:49)
