eMusic Review 0
Rodrigo y Gabriela have become unlikely stars, a pair of Mexican metal guitarists who reinvented themselves as wild flamenco players after moving to Ireland. They’ve carved an admirable niche for themselves, with fiery playing and adventurous ideas that draw heavily on their rock past. Area 52 takes that basic formula one step further, teaming the duo with a 13-piece Cuban orchestra for a fresh look at some of their older material that offers a vibrant, unusual union of Latin cultures, an imagined place where Mexico, Cuba and the sense of old Spanish culture swirl effortlessly together.
Opener “Santa Domingo” sets the tone for much of the album; beginning with a heart-pounding riff, the duo crank up the tension until there’s an explosion of brass, all of the elements powered by the punch of the wah-wah pedal – almost a trademark of the couple these days – before sprinting to a breathless finish. The album is deliberately brash, laced with incendiary guitar work (listen to the electric playing on “Hanuman,” for example), and Cuban rhythms making a loud, colourful wrapper around the songs.
But it’s not all relentless; the group injects plenty of light and shade, as on “Diablo Rojo,” where flute and… read more »
