Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela Quinetro started off playing heavy metal in Mexico City. Then they become an acoustic guitar duo, mixing jazz and Latin influences with bluesy riffs, and moved to Ireland, where they became superior buskers before conquering the world's concert halls. But their second live album, released last year, sounded like a stopgap. They urgently needed new material, and it's provided by these 11 instrumental pieces, each written in thanks to very different musicians who inspired them, from Hendrix to Spanish flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucia or the Palestinian oud players of Le Trio Joubran. There are more changes of mood and pace than in the past, with new textures provided by the addition of oud, sitar, piano, and even electric guitar. The best tracks include Hunaman, Buster Voodoo and Chac Mool, but all feature the remarkable interplay between the two guitarists.
Rodrigo y Gabriela: 11:11
All tracks feature remarkable interplay between the two guitarists, says Robin Denselow