Bajofondo – Ohm

Bajofondo is a group formed by Argentine and Uruguayan musicians who, since 2003, have been blending tango and electronic music. Like the French ensemble Gotan Project, but much better, in my humble opinion. This is mainly because the driving force behind Bajofondo is Argentinian Gustavo Santaolalla, one of Latin America’s most iconic musicians, who has produced and directed numerous major bands, such as Mexico’s Café Tacvba.

Ohm is Bajofondo’s sixth offering, and all of the musicians have prolific solo careers. The group gets together every four or five years to make a new album. This one is certainly the most electronic and the least tango-oriented of them all. Bajofondo likes to explore new areas of discomfort each time.

Gustavo Santaolalla, who lives between Buenos Aires and Los Angeles, told the Argentine edition of Rolling Stone magazine that Ohm was a contemporary tribute to the electronic music of the past. He was referring as much to Wendy Carlos as to the Pet Shop Boys. The keyboardists used analog synthesizers much more than digital ones. This did not prevent them from using cutting-edge technology as well as the very classic bandoneon and violins, often with a lot of reverb.

The album is almost entirely instrumental, except for two tracks. This does not prevent the venerable Gustavo Santaolalla from describing it as an album of resistance. At the venerable age of 74, he lived through the terrifying Argentine military dictatorship, from which he fled into exile 50 years ago. Today, he lives in an American city threatened by Donald Trump, whom he hates. So Ohm is an album of dancing resistance, both festive and introspective. On a few occasions, certain sounds flirt with Quebecois kitsch, but this is only to throw us off balance before taking us into more innovative and surprising territory.

Bajofondo never stops exploring, just like its founder, who has a thousand projects under his belt. Santoalalla is the mastermind behind the soundtrack for the video game and TV series The Last of Us, among other things.