Luka Sulic And Stjepan Hauser “2 Cellos” Album Review

I've got something new and different for everyone: Luka Sulic And Stjepan Hauser's album 2 Cellos. The album is solely the two men and their cellos, and nothing else- no back-up instrumentals, no vocals, no nothing- just pure string music. The two cover classic rock songs and turn them into word-less music with just their bows and hands frantically playing their cellos. The album is pretty amazing and like nothing I've heard in quite some time.

Luka Sulic And Stjepan Hauser hail from Europe, and have both been cello prodigies and have already performed world-wide. They actually started out as rivals, but then decided to join forces, and with that came their first duo album, simply titled 2 Cellos. They take classic songs and cover them, turning them into flowing, moving pieces of string music that mix mostly American music with European influence. They're full of emotion and could be listened to in times of happiness or sadness.

My three favorite pieces are Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal," which got the two noticed in the first place, with their YouTube video, Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and U2's "With or Without You." All twelve tracks are rather amazing and showcase the pair's seemingly effortless talent. You can easily get into these guys, as you're already familiar with the songs, only now they're just music. It's a different perspective and way of hearing the songs as we known them now, but it really brings you into another dimension full of dark joy, anticipation and modern classical music.

The album's track-list is as follows:

I highly recommend picking this album up- it's a piece of pure mastery and joy. Hopefully the duo will eventually make their way to the states again so I can see them perform.

I give this album four guitars!

Below are videos for "Smooth Criminal" and "Smells Like Teen Spirit"

It seems the pair are still dueling even in their videos- well it's the most beautiful rivalry I've ever heard. You can view more videos of the duo via YouTube.

What do you think of Sulic and Hauser's work and album?