Rodrigo y Gabriela share a vibrant cover of Radiohead’s legendary ‘Weird fishes/Arpeggi’

Acoustic double act Rodrigo y Gabriela share their unique instrumental take on the iconic track. The duo are best known for their incredibly complex use of the acoustic guitar, and Latin influences, and this certainly shines through in their version of the track. 

Radiohead’s ‘Weird Fishes/Arpeggi’ is a beautifully despairing track that evokes a sense of desperation to be free of pain through finding love. The lyrics convey these feelings whilst the instrumentation complements and emphasises them. Rodrigo y Gabriela’s interesting new take, however, is wholly reliant on the guitar, and has a slightly lighter, more hopeful feel. 

It’s always important to get creative when covering iconic artists. It should be unique and interesting, yet still, convey the same premise as the original, and it is fair to say that Rodrigo y Gabriela has done just that. The smooth, light acoustic and complex strumming techniques allowed the pair to let their signature sound shimmer through the cover whilst also consolidating the Latin influences that the duo infused into the track. 

Despite the lack of vocals, the duo beautifully preserved the haunting and emotionally driven nature of ‘Weird Fishes/Arpeggi’ through instrumentation and dynamics. The intensity of the original is mirrored through changes in volume - as the track builds up to the ending the emotion in the guitar lines is almost tangible. This is perhaps what makes this cover so brilliant, the pair’s ability to convey feeling without relying on lyricism is astounding. 

Rodrigo y Gabriela placed the focus of their cover onto the backing in a way that captivates the listener. Whilst an instrumental cover of an extremely popular track might not sound particularly enthralling, Rodrigo y Gabriela have truly made the track their own in a beautiful way. 

Eloise Whitley

@TRAN5MISSION

Image: ‘Weird Fishes/Arpeggi’ Official Single Cover