COMPOSERS: Santa Melingo
LABELS: Ma–ana
ALBUM TITLE: Melingo
WORKS: Melingo
PERFORMER: Daniel Melingo (singer); various musicians
CATALOGUE NO: MM42500
Mercurial singer and songwriter Daniel Melingo is a fairly well-kept secret in his native Argentina. Originally a sax player in a rock band, his solo career has made him the toast of the avant-garde ‘nuevo tango’ scene over the last few years, from which this album compiles recordings (1998-2003). Though sticking to traditional arrangements with bandoneón, violin and acoustic guitar on most of these short tangos and milongas (Argentina’s light-hearted song genre), he writes or co-writes all the material, and speak-sings it in a compelling narcotic croak. Moments of highly accessible, lyrical beauty are juxtaposed with those more angular and awkward, but never less than thoroughly engaging. Jon Lusk
Santa Melingo
Mercurial singer and songwriter Daniel Melingo is a fairly well-kept secret in his native Argentina. Originally a sax player in a rock band, his solo career has made him the toast of the avant-garde ‘nuevo tango’ scene over the last few years, from which this album compiles recordings (1998-2003). Though sticking to traditional arrangements with bandoneón, violin and acoustic guitar on most of these short tangos and milongas (Argentina’s light-hearted song genre), he writes or co-writes all the material, and speak-sings it in a compelling narcotic croak.
Our rating
5
Published: January 20, 2012 at 3:57 pm