'11:11'. That'll be the new CD from this overwhelming duo. Around the beginning of September 2009 and out here via Pias. This time with their own, certainly no less impressive, compositions: 11 in total, and according to their site: '11:11 is Rod & Gab’s personal "Gracias" to a first XI of musicians, both past and present, who have inspired them along the way.'
Rodrigo y Gabriela are a fantastic instrumental phenomenon. Just ask anyone who attended those two full and frenzied AB concerts in recent years: only satiated music-lovers to be found, who had experienced a sweltering, exciting and intense live concert (and couldn't shut up about it.)
This summer at Ghent Jazz and Werchter. De Standaard wrote of the latter: 'Top Tien van het festival. Het werd echt leuk toen Rodrigo Y Gabriela aan het experimenteren sloegen. Ze stoeiden met een wahwahpedaal en lieten de funk in hun muziek druppelen. Bij momenten deed het woeste gebonk op de klankkast denken aan techno. Goed, Rodrigo Y Gabriela profiteerden natuurlijk van het zomerweer, maar hun sterke concert maakte iedereen op slag goed geluimd.'
Or view it yourself in their own video report: www.rodgab.com. The accompanying music is called 'Hanuman', a first catchy track from the new CD: make the most of it!
'Mexico's Fast & Furious Guitar Duo'. That's what once stood on the front page of Songlines (that fine world music mag.) With inside also: 'thoroughly genre defying... an enigma... a global mish-mash, and therefore, perhaps, the future?' RODRIGO SANCHEZ & GABRIELA QUINTERO's unique musical mix has been more than sufficiently run in: purely instrumental and acoustic, but varied and well-attuned.
For those who are still wondering: Is it world music? Is it folk? Is it jazz? They say themselves that it is definitely not flamenco, but its energy and passion are certainly there, bursting with 'Latin harmonies & rock structure'. Then we'll call it WORLD ROCK!?
Rodrigo & Gabriela can count on friends like David Gray (remember AB February 2006?), Damien Rice or violinist Roby Lakatos. Their untitled breakthrough CD was produced by John Leckie (see also: Radiohead, Stone Roses, Muse...) With that CD they immediately went to number 1 in the Irish charts, and it still sells well worldwide (now aside a 'Live In Dublin' and a 'Live In Japan'.)
Not bad for two Mexicans without conservatory training, but rather a heavy metal history and lessons from the school of hard knocks, on the streets (of Europe). Take our word for it: 11:11 is again a 10/10!