01.08.2011: From Helsinki to Buenos Aires

This Newsletter takes you to a small journey from Helsinki to Buenos Aires, passing through the many facettes of our latest tango-musthaves!


Stages:
1. Harri Kaitila - Schicksalstango
2. Saimaa - "Juuret" and "Taika"
3. Narcotango - Limanueva
4. San Telmo Lounge - Al Filo
5. La Tubatango - Zorro Gris


1. Harri Kaitila - Schicksalstango

Tango… from Finland… in German! – What a combination! But any arousal of scepticism should held down for a second, because just a moment of listening to Mister Kaitila will completely blow it away! For his new new album the professionally trained tenor made the effort to translate well known Finish tangos into German.
But the lyrics are not the only thing in which he invested much work and accuracy. The song arrangements sophisticated and precise too - sometimes with bar jazz drums and contemplatively purling piano melodies, sometimes with the prototypical staccato rhythm (1 2 3 4 and 1 2 3 4 and)… and always with a touching voice that bears almost more melancholy than the lyrics and the plaintive bandoneon.
Now "Schicksalstango" is not really a novelty - actually it was recorded in 2002 - but what is new is the fact that you can download it now directly in our shop!
Harri Kaitila - Schicksalstango


2. Saimaa - "Juuret" and "Taika"

Also new in our download shop (and as CD) is even more top class Finish Tango!
Saimaa, the Trio around terrific Singer Anna-Katariina Holmérus, that is commited to Finish Tango without being dogmatic, has just released a brand new album: Juuret. It starts as it ends: with spheric sounds accompanying the soft voice of Holmérus. In between unintrusively grooving drums and tango typical piano strokes as well as lugubrious strings and synths harmonize with each other. Meanwhile the finish lyrics leave much space for imagination but he who either speaks the language or flashes a glance at the booklet is carried away to dreamlands only reached by floating melodies, finds himself standing on ample fields bathed in silver moonlight in the masonry of a Norwegian chapel… and in addition he gets to know how a poem of Hesse or a sonnet of Shakespeare can become Finish Tango!
As bonus track a slightly bossa tinted version of "silent night, holy night" is hidden at the end of the album - with finish lyrics of course.
Saimaa - Juuret

On this occasion we didn't want to withhold Saimaa's first album from you!
Besides Tango - on this CD in contrast to the sequel WITH bandoneon - you'll find jazzy ballads on "Taika", sometimes a little bit more pop, sometimes more lounge and musically as sophisticated as Juuret!
This album is dominated by the gentle but distinct voice of Holmérus who already on this CD delivers Scandinavian traditionals soulfully.
Taika is available from now on i our download shop (and as CD)!
Saimaa - Taika


From the vast, snowy, fairytale landscapes of Finland we proceed non stop to the urban nightlife of the mega city at rio de la plata:


3. Narcotango - Limanueva

Eventually in our stock: the Latin Grammy nominated album "Limanueva"!!! On this album Narcotango live up to their name. As a homage to the addictive and intoxicative effect of tango that unfolds after hours of dancing just before dawn, Narcotango stands for progressive tango nuevo that comprises jazz and rock as well as electro - with some detours to psychedelic.
The trip from plangent "mistela" that already inspired some festival choreographies, to "datos de vuelta", borrowing from Pink Floyd, leads through a lively and diversified genre landscape! "Supongamos" for instance is a good example of Argentinian indy-Rock - directly followed by a ballad dominated by Libedinskys bandoneon… and we even get a glance at Santana while passing by. Altogether besides the bandoneon e-guitar and jazz piano dominate in rotation and create a captivating and creative fusion of tango, rock, jazz and lounge.
Narcotango - Limanueva


4. San Telmo Lounge - Al Filo

Apropos Lounge… San Telmo Lounge has recorded a new album. They started approximately at the same time as Narcotango to condition the tango with new urban influences for the new millenium and also on their new album "Al Filo" the e-guitar plays an important role And still there are considerable differences to "Limanueva" not only due to huge amount of musicians who participated in this project. The guests invited to the lounge include drums, e- and contrabass and even trumpet! As if this was not enough there are five singers - among others Juan Subirá, representing the rioplatense rock on this CD.
Together with this incredible lineup San Telmo Lounge comes off with a coherent rocking mix with beat, bandoneon and movement… refined by Naluttis accomplished violin.
And not only the music is great on this album, but even the cover artwork!
San Telmo Lounge - Al Filo


5. La Tubatango - Zorro Gris

The last stage takes us from Buenos Aires 2000 back to the nursery of tango. For La Tubatango set off to bring back the hilarious athmosphere of the early 1900s that lived up the crowded streets at festive occasions, fairs or carnival. Accordingly their interpretations of Tangos from back then are cheerful rather than melancholic and of course you'll find lively valses and milongas.
As on their last album "Bien Canyengue" this endeavor is accomplished perfectly and the outstanding result are 16 songs full of joy and pleasure! And with bondoneon, guitar, clarinet and TUBA La Tubatango's orchestration is unique and shouldn't be missed!
La Tubatango - Zorro Gris




Best regards from Hamburg!
Jannek
and the DyM-Team