Otros Aires - Otros Aires

These guys caught my ear a short while ago with their modernized Tango sound, so I decided to look them up a bit and see if they were worth a listen. I started where one does when wandering foreign ground, at the beginning.

Instantly you're hit with Argentine musical history. Their first tracks all display some form of homage to the great Carlos Gardel. Today's track samples his 1922 El Carretero with a much more modern twist.

Grooveshark

The guitar is what peaks the interest here, giving the modern twist on the ageing Milonga genre that they focus on so well. It's interesting how they modernize even the style of the guitar, switching the genre up about as much as the Tango did.

And of course it's because of the Tango base that we're kept and intrigued. The lyrics maintain during the parts that would otherwise be monotonous, and the electronic side keeps it pulsating with youth. An effect that can be heard throughout the album.

Buy/Stream @ OtrosAires.com

Though not all as unique as today's track, it does have a significant amount of Gardel history in it. A true Milonga/Tango aficionado will enjoy the hints and nods at greatness, and the average newcomer will still be drawn in by the catchy sounds and poetic vocals.

I do have my complaints, of course. The most important one being the monotony in their electronic feel. Yes, it brightens the ageing genre and fills it with life, but it gets repetitive and with songs at lengths further than 4 minutes, it can get tiresome.

All that aside, it still makes for a decent listen if you know what to look for, or if you just like feeling classy with your background music. If today's track was intriguing enough, be sure to give the album a listen.