Lunatico

After a five-year hiatus Gotan Project return with Lunatico

Argentinean guitarist Eduardo Makaroff, Parisian Philippe Cohen Solal and Swiss-born Christoph H. Muller became an instant success with Gotan Project's La Revancha Del Tango. Five years on from breaking new ground in tango and electronica with their debut – now having sold in excess of a million copies worldwide – and over 200 live shows anywhere from Tel Aviv to Tokyo in between, the band now had the small matter of developing the longstanding love affair that the public had now embarked upon with tango to concentrate on. After a five-year hiatus Gotan Project return with Lunatico, named, quite appropriately, after the late king of tango Carlos Gardel's champion racehorse of the 1930's. The vibe is unchanged compared to their previous one, yet with different traits that will probably make this new one another top selling record. "We really wanted to explore both tango and folkloric music from Argentina a lot further than we had before. That's why many of the tracks are really classically tango-orientated, very traditional patterns that people like Anibal Troilo would use", says Philippe. With Lunatico Gotan Project are the same, and yet different. Hence their new single is called Diferente.

One step backwards in order to move two steps forward

Recording in Buenos Aires' prestigious Studio ION, the birth place of many legendary tango releases, Gotan Project were joined by a host of local musicians: a complete string section, two MCs, one trombonist and Argentine piano legend and long-time Gotan collaborator Gustavo Beytelmann. Lunatico was completed in Paris, where more collaborating artists, including Barcelona-based vocalist, Cristina Vilallonga joined the Gotan Project. Not wanting to replicate what their debut, had achieved musically, the group has a decidedly stronger emphasis on the organic roots of tango on Lunatico. This album has taken one step backwards in order to move two steps forward in what not only the Gotan Project, but also many of Argentina's top tango musicians see as the progression of their beloved music's ever-evolving lifespan. "Recording this album was a more natural process for us all," Philippe adds, "as we wanted to continue the tango experience and in ten years time hopefully we'll still feel the same." The result is their most accomplished work yet. The beats are sparse and liquid, and the transition from Buenos Aires bordello to European dance floor is seamless. Lunatico is an intriguing blend of traditional, passionate tango with cool, contemporary electronica.

The band had drummed up quite a buzz in the U.K. and European press

Before they perfected the electronica-meets-tango sound of the Gotan Project, Paris musicians Philippe Cohen Solal and Christophe H. Mueller worked together in the Boys from Brazil and Stereo Action Unlimited as early as 1996. Releasing their music on Solal's Ya Basta label, the two quickly caught the ears of Jazzanova, Gilles Peterson, Mr. Scruff, and other electronica tastemakers, while Coca-Cola picked a Boys from Brazil track for a European television commercial. Despite all the success, the duo wanted a project that had a more constant mood. Feeling that both tango and dub had a subdued and melancholic sound, they decided to combine the genres. With the addition of Eduardo Makaroff in 1999, they formed the Gotan Project and released the first of four 10"s on Ya Basta in February 2000. The band had drummed up quite a buzz in the U.K. and European press, and soon XL recordings snagged the group. XL issued their full-length debut, La Revancha Del Tango, in 2001. Tango electronica fans around the world eagerly await Gotan Project's live performances, known for their seductive sonic and visual elements.