La Diablera

French-based Argentinian band La Típica Folklórica are trying quite a curious experiment: utilising the format and heft of the traditional tango formation called orquesta típica – featuring piano, double bass, strings and bandoneón, and adding vocals, flute and bombo drums – but applying it to folk music. The connection is not abstruse, as tango evolved partly from the milonga form, and both tango and folk evolved in parallel and occasionally were wedded in hybrid musics over the past century.

The album comprises 15 shortish tracks (two minutes and a few seconds is the norm), 11 of which are instrumental and most of which were penned by maestros of Argentine folklore. The range of instruments adds depth and spark to the songs, which explore a half-dozen genres. ‘La Juguetona’ is a giddy chacarera. ‘Agitando Pañuelos’ is a slow, meditative zamba. ‘La Arenosa’ is a dissonant cueca, with something of the spirit of tango. Only a couple of tracks – eg ‘Recuerdos del Portezuelo’, with founder Alfonso Pacin on vocals – are complete duds. Does the eight-person orchestral format (plus three guests) add anything special? Well, there’s some great musical squeezing by the three bandonéonists and sublime piano on tracks like ‘La Baguala’ – but these instruments do somewhat overpower folksong. I wasn’t sure, at times, if I was in city or countryside, and felt uninterestingly lost – like when I’m in the faceless suburbs.