A New Tango Songbook

Ostensibly, this is an unlikely combination. In the red corner: Christoph Müller from Switzerland and Eduardo Makaroff of Argentina, two founding fathers of Gotan Project. In the blue corner: the former edgy frontwoman of Les Rita Mitsouko, a group that sounded like French cousins of the B52s. Singing in Spanish, Catherine Ringer sounds not unlike the Mexican diva Lila Downs, which can’t be bad. She adds a convincing gravitas to these 12 melodious songs of Makaroff and Müller. Some of them, such as ‘Secreto’ and the stylish opener ‘La Mano Encima’, are infused with the ominous notes of classic tango. Others, like ‘La Misión’, ‘Vueltas en el Aire’ and the ethereal ‘Memoria del Placer’ are frothier confections.

The songs are all embellished with elegant arrangements for piano or guitar, bandoneón (squeezebox) strings and occasional brass, with just a hint of Gotan Project's trademark electronic mannerisms. It's a seductive package, conjuring up visions of a Sunday afternoon promenade through some imaginary Buenos Aires sur Seine.