The press release here proudly proclaims that this is Los Lobos’ first studio album of new material since 2010.
It seems to be a very insular affair, entirely written, performed and mixed by the band themselves.
In this sense, it recalls latter day Queen releases, such as The Miracle and Innuendo. This is a band who have long honed their musician strengths on the anvils of both the studio and the live stage. They make music now purely because they want to.
This would therefore account for why Gates Of Gold is such a sparky set. It slams itself full-on, right into your front temporal lobe, causing many sparks that threaten to set mayhem asunder. This makes for a nice change.
These tales are all rough hewn and ready for the off. Los Lobos may be shy and retiring as far as the press is concerned, but their music positively screams out for your attention. On the evidence here, it amply deserves it.
There is a real bluesy romantic undertone here to both the playing and David Hidalgo’s voice. These characters and takes, in songs such as Made To Break Your Heart and MisTreater Boogie Blues love life on a wing and a prayer.
Street takes they may be, but there is a universal appeal here, in the way they are performed and sung, which is instantly appealing. This is an album to put on when you’ve just been through a bad time.
It will put its arm around you, give a loud and sympathetic sigh and let you know that it’s been there too. This is friendly music, in other words. There is a beautiful flow to the eleven tunes on offer here, which makes it an easy album to get lost in. It’s almost as if you are listening to the band play a oneoff intimate private gig just for you, in your front room. And isn’t that just the best feeling ever? You’re almost tempted to scream out for an encore at the end.
Songs such as Song Of The Sun and La Tumba Sera El Final carry a very fresh vibe an important thing and no mean feat for a band now entering their fifth decade. They don’t just want to trade on past glories, they are always keen to take on and try something new.
This contributes in no small way to the album’s live feel. You’re in the front row, cheering them along all the time, which is just as it should be, with all good rock albums. After all, if you’re not actually at a concert, you may as well pretend you are, surely? Los Lobos sound, in all the best ways, like a young band. They make the music they want to make, purely because they want to make it.
