Rodrigo y Gabriela -11:11

Fri 4th Sep, 2009 in Music Reviews

There was a lot to like about Rodrigo y Gabriela’s 2006 self-titled album. Full of energy, it swept up the listener in a flurry of fiery strumming and lyrical lead guitar melodies. Somewhere on its way to becoming the soundtrack to a thousand Mosman dinner parties, nerds pointed out to unbelievers that all the album’s percussion came from Gabriela Quintero’s right hand. Their covers of Metallica and Led Zeppelin were distant descendents of the originals, still clearly of similar blood but standing well apart.

In spite of their previous recording history, Rodrigo y Gabriela was essentially the duo’s debut – their entry into the world. As entrances go, it was pretty dramatic. Their propulsive sound, located somewhere at the meeting points between metal, classical guitar, jazz and flamenco, stunned listeners. Innovation has rarely sounded so melodic and accessible.

After such inventiveness, though, where can you go? Countless bands have delivered fresh and exciting debuts, only to disappear back into obscurity when album #2 fails to match the shock of its predecessor. While Rodrigo y Gabriela aren’t quite the next Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, their new album 11:11 is more Some Loud Thunder than, say Favourite Worst Nightmare or Return to Cookie Mountain.

Like so many bands who’ve created a strong sonic identity for themselves, this follow-up album really only suffers by comparison. 11:11 kicks with the same visceral force as Rodrigo y Gabriela, and occasionally offers the sort of intractable melodic playing that made them so distinctive among instrumental groups. However, ultimately the whole affair is so familiar that it’s hard to be overly impressed. The playing is fluid, fascinating and proficient without being onanistic, but 11:11 falls short of recapturing the band’s dynamic energy.

Part of this has to do with the absence of covers on this album. Most often, covers are lazy album-fillers, dashed off in a stoned afternoon in the studio while the rest of the band waits for the drummer to come out of a heroin coma, and it shows. Rodrigo y Gabriela, however, demonstrated a neat talent for recasting well-worn songs into strange and delightful new forms.

Not only that, their covers of Stairway to Heaven and Orion offered recognisable landmarks; familiar contrast points against which the rest of the album could be understood by those not already familiar with instrumental flamenco-infused acoustic metal (i.e. just about everyone).

Rodrigo y Gabriela really are strongest when it comes to live performance, when you can see the furious movements of Gabriela’s hands, observe Rodrigo’s Zen-like grace, hear the cracking of acoustic guitar timbers. All their recorded work is really only a primer for these phenomenal live shows, and as a way to whet an audience’s appetite, 11:11 is more than successful.

11:11 is out now on Rubyworks.