Album Reviews

Rodrigo Y Gabriela – Live In France (Rubyworks B0055CASPU): Such is their passion for the live show, the guitar duo’s latest album is their third LP to capture the spirit of the moment. The majority of the material is from their 2009 album, 11:11. Showcasing the diversity of their sound and cementing their unique style, the Mexican pair whip through songs including Hanuman, Buster Voodoo and Triveni. The virtuosi effortlessly fuse elements of metal, rock, Latin and world music, with instrumentals ranging from full-on fret wizardry to delicate finger-work on their more subtle tunes. Impressive, but not essential. NH

Sam Cooke – The Complete Remastered Keen Collection (R&B & Soul B0059QW7Y2):A welcome and lovingly restored suite of four albums from the king of soul’s early reign at Keen Records. Dating back to 1958, it is a testament to Sam Cooke’s distinctive, effortlessly beautiful voice. Instead of sounding dated, these albums are truly timeless. Everyone knows standards such as (What A) Wonderful World and Summertime, but Cooke’s tender phrasing comes across as exactly what it is: much mimicked and never bettered. There are plenty of forgotten, gems to discover too, rendering this a fitting tribute to a true great. RD

The Horn The Hunt – Depressur Jolie (White Label Music B004YHI6ZG): For a band who list Bjork and David Lynch among their main influences, it isn’t surprising that The Horn The Hunt make music which is overtly experimental and generally quite weird. But that isn’t to say that Depressur Jolie – the second album from the arty Leeds duo – isn’t also mesmerising. Clare Carter’s rangy vocals lend themselves well to the rattling drums and spaced-out synth sounds of tracks such as Depressur Jolie, Old Town Cow and the lovely Raptor, which, with its chirpy, poppy chorus, is easily the album’s most accessible song. Admittedly, sometimes it feels almost self-consciously odd, but better that than dull. NB

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The Horn The Hunt – Depressur Jolie (White Label Music B004YHI6ZG): For a band who list Bjork and David Lynch among their main influences, it isn’t surprising that The Horn The Hunt make music which is overtly experimental and generally quite weird. But that isn’t to say that Depressur Jolie – the second album from the arty Leeds duo – isn’t also mesmerising. Clare Carter’s rangy vocals lend themselves well to the rattling drums and spaced-out synth sounds of tracks such as Depressur Jolie, Old Town Cow and the lovely Raptor, which, with its chirpy, poppy chorus, is easily the album’s most accessible song. Admittedly, sometimes it feels almost self-consciously odd, but better that than dull. NB

Mahler: Symphony No.3 (Tudor 7170 (2CDs): Among the younger generation of Mahler conductors, Jonathan Nott is surely the most distinguished, his on-going symphony cycle displaying such clearly focussed and perceptive performances. That said, his tempos in the fourth and fifth movements are here daringly slow, while attention to detail is very distinctive. The Bamberg Symphony play out of their skins for him, the dramatic moments as exciting as one could hear, while Mihoko Fujimura’s alto voice is of uncommon beauty. The engineers capture an enormous dynamic range. DD

Tabakov: Cello Concerto/Ad Infinitum (GagaNew GD 358): Leeds-born cellist, Tim Hugh, is the remarkably brilliant soloist in the premiere recording of the Cello Concerto by Bulgarian composer, Emil Tabakov. In the stylistic era of Shostakovich, it is a long and highly charged score calling for power and high-octane virtuosity. The jazzy scherzo is sheer whirlwind; the finale creating a disturbing dream. Conducted by the composer, the Bilkent Symphony provides the challenging orchestral backdrop and the dark tone-poem, Ad Infinitum. Only by mail from www.geganew.com. DD

Nathania Hartley, Rory Dollard, Nick Banks and Mike Fletcher (rock/pop), and David Denton (classical/opera)

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