– GUERRILLA WARFARE –

Xavier Hernández Creus – better known to football fans the world over as simply “Xavi” – was a midfield player whose career at serial winners, Barcelona saw him rated for many years as one of the most creative maestros of the modern era.

And, while there are no explicit suggestions from Brooklyn-based “fusion-influenced jam band” Snarky Puppy that this song was in any way influenced by Mr. Hernández (though one of the Catalan club’s shirts does appear in the song’s Behind The Scenes video, below), it could certainly be a fitting homage to the Spaniard’s spellbinding skills.

Based around distinct parts crafted by each of the Puppy’s three drummers Jamison Ross, Jason “JT” Thomas and Larnell Lewis, the rest of the band’s jazz flutes, horns and violin lines spin dizzyingly around Xavi.

And just when you think the whole thing’s worn itself out, a percussive interlude brings us back for another section which is equally as intricately structured. Equal parts exhilarating as exhausting to listen to, one can only imagine how much fun it is to play.

Xavi comes from the album Immigrance which was released last week. Listen to the track on the playlist below and watch a Behind the Scenes video of its recording above.

More From This Week’s Mix:
ANDERSON .PAAK | “KING JAMES”
LAMB | “MOONSHINE”
DJ JENIFA | “MLL”
LAMBCHOP | “CROSSWORDS, OR WHAT THIS SAYS ABOUT YOU”

You can find all of the tracks reviewed above in the 45 Revolutions per Minute playlist below or click to access the 45 RPM Playlist on Spotify itself.

If you like what you hear (or even if you don’t), please engage in dialogue with me @45rpm_Reviews on Twitter. And, if you’d like to receive updates weekly, please subscribe to the email list to get these recommendations sent to your inbox weekly.

– SV –