Rodrigo y Gabriela - dang

[Laudanum]

And ... it amazes me that some of the forum members dig them considering a lot of what they cover.  Cool, very cool.
Seen them covering Slayer.   Acoustic duet of a Slayer medley enjoyed by some jazz and classical fans.   A reverse broadening of musical horizons!  Next, I'd suggest buying some original Slayer LP's or CD's.  Reign in Blood and South of Heaven are probably their most popular but the earlier Hell Awaits shouldnt be missed either

[Doc B.]

So when they cover Slayer do they have like 100 acoustic guitars lined up on the stage?

[Laudanum]

So when they cover Slayer do they have like 100 acoustic guitars lined up on the stage?

   It was tounge in cheek.  No wall of acoustics or amps ...  But there is a video of a medley with some Zep, Metallica and Slayer thrown in.  Rodrigo intros with a little Raining Blood and South of Heaven and there is a bit of it laced into the piece.  At any rate, as an 80's Metal Head, I think it's cool that they encorporate some of that genre into some of their music.

[Sh7eleven]

So when they cover Slayer do they have like 100 acoustic guitars lined up on the stage?

I think it's cool that they encorporate some of that genre into some of their music.

I think its great to see that they made the connection.  When my friend said they were a flamenco group that played metal I couldn't see it, but clearly there's some cross over that works.  Apparently they were in a thrasher band before branching out.

[Grainger49]

Thanks to Craig I have their ST album on CD and two more CDs on the way.  They are smokin'!

Second one is in, Area 52.  It is the third one I bought so Live In Japan is coming shortly.

[Sh7eleven]

Live in Japan is the only one I've heard, Its awesome.  I will check out the other ones.

[Grainger49]

I got Live In Japan today and am now playing it through my newly C⁴Sd FP 2.  I didn't expect much soundstage on a live recording.  I was wrong.  The audience seems to be behind them, the screachers are all either tenors or sopranos.  

More later, less sooner.  I have to go back to the music room.

[Thoburn]

I just ordered "Rodrigo y Gabriela / Area 52"

<http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/80053/Rodrigo_y_Gabriela-Area_52-45_RPM_Vinyl_Record>

Will report back on how I like it.

Well, I've had the LP for a bit now and have this opinion. The two disk 45 rpm set looked very nice. I've played it a couple of times and have to say I am disapointed. The sound stage is very narrow and the instruments seem to be a bit mushy. A bit choked together. The tracks are not as engaging as the video link at the beginning of this thread. Maybe it is just this collection. I can't recommend it even though I believe these two have something interesting to offer. Just my opinion and I am not an expert.

[Grainger49]

Interesting.  I was looking at that LP last night for $40+.  This tells me it isn't worth that price to me.

The Live in Japan CD has excellent soundstage.  I looked and it is produced by Sony Japan as well as recorded and mixed by a local, excellent sound company.

[Grainger49]

Thoburn was nice enough to loan me his 45 RPM 2-180g LP set of Area 52.  It is very quiet but the sound is odd.  I warmed up the system, both phono stage and the CD.  After the CD played a little the soundstage developed.  I choose side 3 of the LP set with Master Maqui and Diablo Rojo on it for the comparison.  

With the CD the sound came from 6 feet behind the front of my speakers.  With the LP the same sounds came from only 3 feet behind the front of my speakers.  That is a big difference.  On the LP the sounds were well defined but not widely spread,little depth to the instruments themselves.  That is to say the instruments are not fleshed out as well as the CD.

I would guess this is a shortcoming of the mastering/engineering.  The CD is good!  The LP is quieter but not as carefully mastered.  I think this is the first time I have heard an LP out shined by its CD.  Steve Hoffman says that you must master a CD and an LP differently.  These were not.  Probably the LP came from the CD master.  Just my guess.

This is not a slight to R y G.  The self titled CD is very good.  Live in Japan is even better.  And, of course the music is amazing!  

A big thanks goes to Thoburn for sending this high dollar LP to me for a trial.  I have heard exactly what he heard, spot on!  So I know it isn't the fault of the artists but it is the fault of whoever touched the music after it was recorded.

[Grainger49]

I got Re-Foc a few days ago.  (Is that dirty in Spanish?)

I got to this just about 20 minutes ago.  Soundstage is very good and the music is driving, as expected.  

There are more musicians backing them up on this one than the others.  That isn't a distraction from the guitar work.

Edit: There is a passage in Take Five that reminds me of Urubamba.  How is that for an obscure reference?

I'm still listening to the 45 RPM LP and the CD of Area 52.  I'm still voting for the CD.

[Laudanum]

Just curious, are these LP's pressed from a digital master?   Granted, I have very few "digital LP's"  but of those I have I dont think any of them sound better than the CD.  I think the CD is better in all of them.   I generally avoid buying them.   Im sure Im missing something but I just dont get the point.  Again, this is a relatively small sample size that I have formed a general opinion from and what I listen to usually doesnt get the production treatment that popular jazz or classical would.

[Grainger49]

Desmond,

I will look when I get home.  I'm at the hospital now (Father-in-law not doing well).  There is not much on the LPs other than the track list.  It might tell something about the mastering.  I'll let you know.

[Laudanum]

Sorry to hear that Grainger.  Hope he's does better.

[Doc B.]

If the original master is 16/44 then I would agree that there wouldn't be much point in getting the LP. But it's quite possible that the original master is 24/96 or maybe even 24/192, in which case the LP could end up sounding better than the CD if cut from that high res master.