The liner notes explain the music within as such, “Take an exhilarating musical trip to Argentina…Invite some friends over, press play and wine, dine and dance into the early hours. Inspiration for this sexy compilation comes from: Composer Astor Piazzolla, singers Carlos Gardel and Eva Peron, Che Guevara, the tango, percussive rhythms, passion and desire…” That’s being said, what I found sounded world’s apart from the welcoming description provided.

A mix from a country that boasts itself as the originator of the tango finds the majority of its modern music sounding like a cross between Bryan Adams‘ horrible “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?” and the music that usually plays as the demo song on a showroom keyboard (if you’ve heard it – you know exactly what I’m talking about). It’s just not that good. While that part of the mix may not be indicative of the country’s musical history its traditional tracks lean heavily towards accordion-based ballads which probably rear a better reflection of the country’s music.? The mix may not be complete but it seems to allow a casual listener the ability to see what exactly the general basis for which the country’s musical story has been written. Wikipedia suggests the album to have neglected Mercedes Sosa, a traditional folk singer not unlike Atahualpa Yupanqui who was included in the compilation. Both reflect a softer, less flamboyant side to the country’s music that, I can attempt to conclude after a little research, cannot be said for most of the country’s modern musicians.

Atahualpa Yupanqui “Luna Tucamana”: His early work suffered due to his affiliation with the Communist Party, however his music thrived due to his longstanding status within the country as a musical journeyman. In 1952 Yupanqui unattatched himself from his communist affiliation and his career began to thrive given his newfound commercial opportunities. Yupanqui’s music was later covered by the previously mentioned Mercedes Sosa allowing him revivalist stature within the country’s mainstream music scene in the ’60s and ’70s.

Los Nocheros “A Dont Ata”: Los Nocheros are a modern folk quartet whose music follows suit of other modern reinterpretations of the country’s historical sounds. First releasing the group’s debut album in 1994 entitled Con El Ama, the group still plays and records music together, most recently being nominated for a Latin Grammy Award for Best Folk Album in 2005.

Atahualpa Yupanqui “Luna Tucamana”
Los Nocheros “A Dont Ata”

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