Gotan Project Live at the Troxy – Review

Gotan Project 3.0

Being a fan of the Gotan Project ever since I heard their first Album “La Revancha del Tango” many moons ago, I have been having this running battle with my old man (he’s a tango Purist) “this is not tango” he will say, you see he is of the is of the old skool Tango of Julio Sosa, Alfredo de Angelis, Osvaldo Pugliese and the likes. I on the other hand like it all from Julio Sosa, Gardel, Piazolla and this modern fusion of Piazolla influenced Tango of Jazz/Hip Hop/Rap/ Electronica.

You see he fell in love with the Tango when he lived in Argentina for a couple of years during  the dictatorship of the 70′s frequenting many a Tango saloon to watch and listen. So I guess it was his way of escaping the daily madness that only a dictatorship can, so imagine it must be  difficult for him to picture how it would work going to see Gotan Project Live.

I have seen Gotan live 3 times now. The first time was some years ago when they played to full house at the Brixton Academy. Second at the o2 Wireless Festival both of which were brilliant although the Brixton gig is the one that stands out for me. This was my third show, and so with the launch of the new album they performed the Gotan 3.0 set with a few classics thrown in. The men were dressed in their trademark gangsta/Tango suits that seemed to blend in perfectly with Troxy’s retro surroundings adding to the atmosphere.

Gotan Project started the set with “Cuesto Abajo” which blended into “Epoca” beautifully. This was when the singer Claudia Pannone received the biggest cheer of the evening as she strode on stage to join the band by singing the song, “Epoca”. The Gotan Project then weave in and out expertly through new and old material using striking visual projections to great effect by supplying extra horn sections or dancers even synching up the Rappers onto the big screen for “Mi Confession”.

Now one thing I will have to say is that I love the music and albums that the Gotan Project have produced over the years, but I have always felt that the live shows lacked a little something. The musicians themselves are a little static hence the need for quality visuals. What I mean, is that there isn’t anyone with a huge deal of stage presence, the reason I remember the gig at the Brixton Academy, was that for the encore Gotan Project were joined on stage by rapper Akala who just grabbed the atmosphere and bounced with it, the icing on what was a tasty cake.

That is my main and only criticism of Gotan Project 3.0. Musically they are as together and as intricate as anyone can be their music is sensuous and beautiful, but for me at least their stage presence lacks that va va voom, je nais ce quoi. Having said that, would I go and watch them again? If it was at a venue like the Troxy with table, chairs, Empanadas and vino tinto I would have to say definately – yes!

“A Musical Massage of great quality”.

So there you are, I’m going against my father’s purist tango objections. I believe that this is Tango but Tango for the Modern generation, like everything else on this planet even Tango evolves.

Modern Tango at its musical modern best!

Next time some dancers and MC’s.

Gotan Project are:
>
> Philippe Cohen Solal ( dub fx, guitars, bass, mandolin )
> Eduardo Makaroff (acoustic guitar)
> Christoph H. Müller (programming, bass, keys, tenori-on, vocoder & fx)
>
> The band:
>
> Claudia Pannone: vocals
> Facundo Torres: bandoneon
> Lalo Zanelli: piano
> Ananta Roosend: violin
>
> Videos written and directed by Prisca Lobjoy

Gotan Project 3.0 Set List

CUESTA ABAJO
ÉPOCA
DIVÁN
TANGO SQUARE
RAYUELA
UNA MÚSICA BRUTAL
DE HOMBRE A HOMBRE
TODA MI VIDA
MI CONFESIÓN
LA GLORIA
DIFERENTE
LA MÚSICA DE SIEMPRE
EL MENSAJERO
PANAMERICANA-TRÍPTICO-PANAMERICANA (endin
MIL MILLONES / QUEREMOS PAZ
DESILUSIÓN
PELIGRO
SANTA MARÍA (del Buen Ayre)
INMIGRANTE

Claudia Pannone at the Gotan Project 3.0 after Party

For more picture check put our Latino Music UK Flickr page

Just as note; FÉLOCHE who were the supporting act for the evening were energetic, very quirky and a great support act, building the atmosphere for the Gotan Project extremely well.

FÉLOCHE (support)

Féloche (vocals & mandolin)
Léa Bulle (accordion, trumpet, keyboards, whistles…)
Christophe Malherbe (double bass)

setlist (for Feloche)
-La vie Cajun
-Jette les gants
-Emilie
-Reste avec moi
-Dr John Gris – Gris John
-Darwin avait raison
-Eh toi!

Review by LatinoMusic.co.uk

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