Del
Castillo - Vida
Some say that you can't improve upon perfection. Del Castillo proves that wrong with Vida, the follow-up to their debut CD Brothers of the Castle. Unlike many bands who fall flat with the release of their second CD, Del Castillo has managed to pool the talent of the band and produce a collection of songs that leaves the listener in awe.
Del Castillo is an incredible assembly of musicians, who in their own right would raise the standards of any band. Collectively, they are an unstoppable force destined for bigger and better things. The band consists of Rick and Mark Del Castillo (both playing acoustic guitar), Alex Ruiz (lead vocals), Albert Besteiro (bass), Rick Holeman (percussion), and Mike Zeoli (drums).
Vida begins with Don Nicolás, a powerful, percussion-driven piece. Mike's presence in the writing process is very obvious. The last performance of theirs that I saw began with this song. It presents a strong introduction to the band, both live and on the CD. The title track Vida is a prime example of why this CD is better than the last. There is a perfect marriage of instrumentation and vocals. Alex's presence early on in the writing process pays off in a big way. Additionally, Suenos Madrigales, Mi Gitana, and Los Caballos are sure to please.
Instrumentals like Para Mi Sobrina and Yiddish March highlight the phenomenal talent of the Del Castillo brothers. Two of the things that have made a huge impression on me about Del Castillo really sink in when you see them live. On both Brothers of the Castle and Vida there are times where the guitar sounds exceptionally rich, even more than usual. Seeing them live, you realize that the brothers are playing in unison—arms and fingers moving in total synchronization. This would not be as impressive if it weren't for the complicated arrangements that they perform. The second thing that blows me away is the sheer speed at which they play at times. While one hand is a blur, the other is moving up and down the neck of the guitar with specific intent and precision.
Dame Un Momento has a slightly different feel than the rest of the CD. It's got a little more funk and blues than the others. A switch to electric guitars would make this a full-on rock song. The last track, Back From the Grave, is the only song performed in English (with the exception of the bonus track—a live version of Barrio Blues), and is the only song written by someone outside of the band. It's actually written by Wayne Ceballos—uncle to the Del Castillo brothers. It's a great compliment to the CD.
In my review of Brothers of the Castle, I made a comparison between Del Castillo and artists such as Strunz & Farah, Ottmar Liebert, and Acoustic Alchemy. With the release of Vida, Del Castillo will become one of the standards by which other musicians will be measured against. I know all of this seems like high praise, but it's very deserved. Vida is by far one of the best CDs I've heard this year, and definitely the best CD I've heard this year from an Austin band. Last year, Del Castillo was voted Best Traditional/Latino Band and Best World Music Band in the 2001-2002 Austin Music Awards. This year, I'd be extremely disappointed if they didn't appear toward the top of the Band of the Year list.
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