Highway Patrol - Los Gigantes

I tell myself that we are, without doubt, somewhere between Mexico and the USA: just a look at the cover and the title tells you. I expect a mix of of border music with accordion and trumpet in evidence in equal doses of fun and feeling. Upon listening , first impressions are confirmed.

The surprise comes when I read the names of the two players that form Los Gigantes: Stefan Hiss ( vocals, accordion and Hammond) and Ralf Groher (vocals and trumpet) most definitely german.

The good thing is that their new musical formation is perfectly natural and never artificial. I listened to “Highway Patrol” with a friend whose mother tongue is spanish and asked him where he thought the musicians were from and after a few moments he replied " Mexico" !

What drove Hiss to abandon his germanic folk orchestra in favour of corridos, rumba, blues and rock’n’roll? I dont know but we must be glad given the results and it is another point that confirms that music is where the soul is even if that is a long way from home. I admit that I had never heard of Los Gigantes before and for whom “Highway Patrol” is the 3rd CD and a good one too.

They make music as one would expect from a group looking at the Rio Grande with sackfuls of passion , a sense of irony and fun> they are several covers of artists you would expect: Johnny Cash, Lyle Lovett and Cesar Rosas of Los Lobos. Several original pieces by Hiss are not out of place in this company. It is music that often engages the listener thanks to the rhythms of the Texas Torpedoes. YOu can decide but if you have a few friends over for dinner and fun and a few beers in the fridge, you know which cd to play for a guaranteed good evening.

Reviewed by Renato Belardinelli, August 2008