THE Mexican duo with the asbestos strumming fingers return with their first album in five years; strangely for this usually dynamic duo, something in their musical formula has gone a little flat.

All things are relative, of course – and if you’ve never encountered Rodrigo Y Gabriela before, this might sound sonically rewarding. Sadly, anyone who owns any of the live albums will probably think they’ve heard it all before and better.

The weighty concept doesn’t help: there are nine songs here, all written by the duo to represent writers, artists and of figures of history who have been an inspiration. It’s an eclectic list, embracing anyone or anything from “nature and animals” to Dostoyevsky and Eleanor of Acquitaine. Antonio de Torres Jurado, a pioneering Spanish guitarist, earns the best tribute with opening track The Soundmaker.

Everything else just sounds too familiar and those busy strings don’t rattle with their usual buzzing thrill. If you’re new to RYG, you’d be better off tracking down their take on Stairway To Heaven.