Star rating: ***
The Orquesta Tipica Imperial is part of a movement of young Argentinian musicians who have ventured into their country's musical past instead of following the pop and rock path. Featuring three bandoneons, three violins, cello, double bass and piano, this is the traditional tango orchestra line-up. It's essentially a dance band rather than a concert attraction, and there was a little more spring in their playing once the seats in front of the stage had been removed, allowing the dancers room.
Although they have played extensively in Europe, this was the band's first appearance in the UK and they could have done with a little boning up on repartee. Apparently they normally have a singer, who may well take care of the introductions. Certainly a little more explanation of the tunes' provenance wouldn't have gone amiss, and a few songs might have brought more variety to a set that, to a listener rather than a dancer, seemed a mite perfunctory and lacking in expression at times.
That said, it's a good-sounding band, with Gerardo Martinez Argibay driving it from an electric keyboard that rumbled quite effectively. The bandoneon players work well as a team, bouncing their instruments on their knees in unison and drumming on the keys like a surrogate percussion section as well as making full use of their bellows' range. The dancers loved it, although ultimately the music left the feeling of a prelude rather than a main course.
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