#mettavolution

Song Review: Rodrigo y Gabriela - “Terracentric”

There’s so much happening in 3.5 minutes of “Terracentric,” Rodrigo y Gabriela toss in a couple of moments of silence to catch their collective breath.

These rests serve as jumping-off points for renewed intensity on the duo’s latest single - following the title track and a reimagining of Pink Floyd’s “Echoes” - ahead of Mettavolution, which arrives March 26.

The track has a rock ‘n’ roll vibe with bluesy accents on slide guitar and propulsive percussive effects on the guitars’ bodies to drive it along. Headphones or strategically placed speakers are a must in order to catch the intricacies of each player; and many listens - more than Sound Bites undertook for this review - will be needed to hear them all.

The blog looks forward to it.

Grade card: Rodrigo y Gabriela - “Terracentric” - A-

Song Review: Rodrigo y Gabriela - “Echoes” (Live)

Just as “Echoes” served as the lead single for 2019’s Mettavolution, “Echoes” serves as the lead single for 2020’s forthcoming Mettavolution Live.

Rodrigo y Gabriela’s two-guitar take on Pink Floyd’s Meddle epic is even more scrumptious in the live setting. It’s about two minutes longer, the guitarists’ playing is warmer, more intimate, and the occasional bursts of audience appreciation nearly put the listener in Paris, where the LP was recorded in 2019.

Running 21 minutes, RyG’s rendition hits all the Pink spots - but eschews the vocals - with the guitarists’ use of percussive effects and precise support of and response to each other particularly essential to pulling off the herculean feat.

As with the studio version, it’s one of those tracks that has to be heard to be believed. Unlike the studio version, this one’s even more believable owing to the immediacy of the live performance.

Mettavolution Live is slated to arrive Oct. 2.

Grade card: Rodrigo y Gabriela - “Echoes” (Live) - A

Song Review: Rodrigo y Gabriela - “Gamma State”

Ummm ... leftovers.

There’s no stronger testament to the quality of Rodrigo y Gabriela‘s Mettavolution than the fact “Gamma State” was held off the 2019 LP. Now out as a standalone single, the instrumental track finds the acoustic guitarists at their collaborative best as they solo wildly and support each other with percussive rhythms, disco-inspired fills, harmonics and innovative odds and ends to add texture.

Served hot, “Gamma State” doesn’t feel like leftovers. It’s more like a hearty appetizer for whatever the duo serve up for their next main course.

Grade card: Rodrigo y Gabriela - “Gamma State” - A