Omar Rodriguez-Lopez
Solar Gambling
Rodriguez Lopez Productions
December 28, 2009
By Don Weber
Solar Gambling is the most recent solo album by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez of The Mars Volta fame. The 34-year old musician releases this project with a multitude of fellow musicians that most people have likely never heard of. It is a nearly thirty-five minute album full of experimental sounds, combining synchronization, dainty vocals and a heavy focus on the guitar.
The Rodriguez-Lopez album has only nine tracks, none of which exceed six minutes. Each track possesses its own unique sound which allows listeners to relax to a strong variety of music. Those Mars Volta fans will appreciate Omar’s commitment to true music and testing of new noises. He doesn’t try to make a feature album that will attain the same listeners over and over. Instead, Solar Gambling does a good job of allowing Latina vocalist Ximena Sarinana Rivera to bellow her own style on certain tracks. Rodriguez-Lopez also doesn’t interfere with his own desire to strum out echoing chords.
Rivera has an amazing voice, which could match any Latino radio station’s songs in the Greater Hartford area. Rodriguez-Lopez is smart in allowing her to take some attention with her voice. That being said, in the brief album time there is still plenty of time to catch Rodriguez-Lopez doing what he does for The Mars Volta. He not only flaunts unique riffs, but tests out instrumental mixes right on the tracks that most musicians would be nervous about even free jamming. Not to mention the assistance of his brother, Marcel, and other side members from The Mars Volta.
Solar Gambling will speak to many music fans, and that is where its success lies. Independent devout listeners can appreciate the low-key production done by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez. Those fans of The Mars Volta will not be disappointed about any part of the album. Even general music fans that like Latin music or like to listen to the different songs that are coming out will probably cherish this little gem.
Rodriguez-Lopez is an experienced artist who never just feeds what’s already famous. He doesn’t try to be something he’s not, and he doesn’t leave what he knows in order to strive for the charts. Solar Gambling is a brilliant album with a plethora of sounds that will make you appreciate having bought, downloaded or just listened to it.
