This Mexican musical duo have come a long way since their busking days on the streets of Dublin. They can now routinely sell out shows at the Royal Albert Hall and pack out concert halls all around the world.
Their music has gained an even more elevated profile since featuring on soundtracks to blockbuster movies such as the Shrek sequel Puss In Boots and Pirates of the Caribbean.
Their fourth studio album is their first album of new music since 2009 and is something of a return to basics with plenty of the breathtakingly fast, rhythmic acoustic guitars fans have come to expect.
What makes their duelling guitar sound so unique is Gabriela's remarkable percussion technique incorporating a wrist action derived from observing Bohran players in Ireland. It is this which give the music the driving energy which distinguishes it from the sound from Jazz or Flamenco and marries it to the riff-based Thrash Metal they started their musical careers playing.
With good reason they prefer the record to be thought of as Rock Music.
According to their Twitter, "each track is a personal celebration of individuals who have passed on, but through their deeds and words still resonate in the 21st century". These relatively obscure personages include poets, humanitarians, explorers and diplomats.
The most well known name is author Fyodor Dostoyevsky (The Russian Messenger). The album's first single, and opening track, is The Soundmaker is inspired by Spanish guitarist Antonio de Torres Jurado.
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Four women were selected by Gabriela and four men by Rodrigo. The one tune not linked to one of these late 'greats' is Torito which is for "animals and nature" - the fact that both are committed vegans explains this dedication.
Megalopolis is the least showy of the tunes and comes as something of a welcome relief after all the up front virtuoso playing.
Sunday Neurosis named for Austrian existential psychotherapist Viktor Frankl is the most interesting track incorporating voices of UK Atheist/Darwinist, Richard Dawkins, Indian yogi Sadh Guru and American spiritual teacher Ram Dass and ending with the sound of an airplane taking off.
I personally would like to hear the duo using samples or field recordings like this more. The brilliance of their musicianship doubtless wows audiences when playing live but on record something other than just extraordinary technique is needed.
This is a fine record by any standards but a few more experimental touches might have made it even more exceptional.
Rodrigo y Gabriela's website
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