Search - Del Castillo :: Brothers of the Castle

More Texas Guitar Heroes

Kurt Harding | Boerne TX | 08/06/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Texas has produced more than its share of virtuoso guitar players. Among those that come to mind are Stevie Ray Vaughan, Albert Collins, Johnny Winter, Junior Brown, and Gatemouth Brown just to name a few. I hadn't heard of Del Castillo until just the other day when I happened to hear some of their music on Austin's KGSR alternative radio station. Since at the time I just happened to be heading to Waterloo Records, an Austin music institution, I stopped and picked out a couple of CDs amongst which was Brothers of the Castle.

When I played it through the first time, I was reminded of many other groups. Strunz and Farah and the Gipsy Kings are two that immediately came to mind. But Del Castillo is far from being a clone of other Latin and Nouveau Flamenco groups out there vying for listener dollars. They definitely stand tall on their own.

My favorites here are the instrumentals that showcase the considerable guitarrista talents of Rick and Mark del Castillo. Their skill and musical sensibilities are most apparent on Spanish Castle Tango, Mexican Lounge Lizard, and Barrio Blues. That last shows the brothers are capable of reaching beyond the Latin jazz niche into the world of blues, and they do one heck of a job at it. In addition to those mentioned, the CD closes strongly with a dazzling full-band workout on El Camino Menos Transitado.

As for vocals, my favorite is on Mi Carino. Only the utterly lame vocals and weak songwriting on La Luz a Mi Paso and Suenos de Ti prevent this early effort by del Castillo from achieving five stars.

Apparently, the group is already locally famous in the Austin area. Now its up to the rest of the country to get ready to hear more Texas guitar heroes."

Guitar mastery and raw emotion

Timothy K. Schwader | Austin, TX United States | 04/15/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"While this album, Del Castillo's debut, may be just a pinch away from the total cohesiveness shown on the follow-up Vida, it remains an amazing and touching album. You would be hard-pressed to find a more talented guitar duo than brothers Mark and Rick Del Castillo. These guys play the same notes at lightning speed, harmonize with each other, and trade solos as if they were one player doubling himself with multiple tracks in the studio--but they do it live so there are no studio tricks here!In addition to the beautiful guitar sounds, Del Castillo (the band) offers up infectiously catchy Latin rhythms and powerful, emotive vocals. They have great lyrics too, and if you don't speak Spanish you can find translations on the website www.delcastillomusic.com or just close your eyes and get lost in the wonderful musical arrangements.This is a band to watch. While only the two guitarists are blood family, I belive, the band as a whole comes across like a true family and that inspires the music and the listener. Their love for each other and their music comes across beautifully in their music. I recommend this for anyone who FEELS the music they listen to. You know who you are!"

Amazing....

PJD | San Antonio, TX United States | 03/11/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This band is out of Austin, Texas, and they play neuva flamenco. While they have been compared to the Gipsy Kings and Strunz and Farah, personally, I think they are far superior. The passion in the music and singing is infectious even if you don't speak Spanish. The musicianship is outstanding, showcasing two of the most amazing guitar players in the whole state. There is nothing quite like seeing them live, but the CDs are an extremely good example of their power and grace as musicians.
They are going to be big, and tickets to concerts will get steadily harder to come by, so pay attention now.If you are a fan of guitar music, flamenco, or just good playing, do not miss this CD!"