‘Differente’ claims to draw heavily on Argentine folk music tradition. A celebration of the tango is also evident (this release is from the long-player ‘Lunatico’, named after tango legend Carlos Vardel’s racehorse).
The Paris-based music collective known as The Gotan (Tango) Project have reworked both of these elements into the two tracks on offer here. ‘Differente’ highlights the vocals of Christina Vilallonga and the sound of Argentine Bandoneonist Nina Flores during its haunting five minute journey through the rhythms of house, whilst the tango spirit is married with a deeper FX driven pulse in ‘Domingo’
Where this undeniably well crafted release falls short of the mark is in its attempts to be in two places at once. They have orchestrated their influences into a seamless fusion, but in doing so both collaborators have been bent too far out of shape, diluted by the techno production. Likewise, the folk authenticity has weakened the pulse of the beat, resulting in a careful ‘on the fence’ feel as this release trip hops its way through a lounge-core mid ground, before very noncommittally fading into the background.
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And that’s ultimately what this is. Too much of the record’s dramatic potential is lost, and without that the background feel doesn’t have quite the same echo of world music, and has a distinctly pre-club feel to it. Ultimately though, it does not get the vote of my dancing feet, though as a chillout soundtrack it gently soothes the soul.
www.gotanproject.com
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