Do do we ever pay off the debt?

[Bailango]

I have two comments or additions to that:

I use different terminology. For me, the music you're referring to is "retro", since it mostly uses old arrangements and is based on the sound of historical models. I find Gotan &al. is contemporary.

Fair enough. Hard to decide how to label retro vs contemporary vs neither of those.

I'm an so-called 80:20 tango DJ (i.e., 20% non-, neo-, what-the-?, otros ritmos). Not because I love in particular neo-tango and the like, but simply because the average traditional milonga audience loves variety. I always get a lot of compliments that someone is finally brave playing neo-tango at traditional milongas. It's not about pure doctrine; we DJs have to cater to the masses, not the die-hards.

I don’t mind non tango music which is danceable at a traditional milongas. There is plenty of music which is not tango, but the composition of the music and rhythm means you can dance traditional close embrace tango to it just like you can dance to GA tango music.

I do prefer to dance tango in close embrace. For non-close embrace, I can dance other dances. I don’t need pop music and other music that a lot of Neuvo DJs played.

 

[Bailango]

pp
For me, this is a big disadvantage; some organizers think I'm far too modern, others blame me reactionary.

Organizers are the problem then

 

[Bailango]

I think it's partly because tango music is often a passion project that we have creativity and the groups can find their own interpretation rather than play it safe.

True. For many of them it is a passion project.

But I have danced to some excellent original compositions. They have ranged from duo with only guitars or paino and bandeon to ad hoc local band with 16 members or more (almost all of whom are regular tango dancers). We have live music where there can be four to six bandoen players (most of them local plus visiting) plus violinists, base and piano.

Sometimes the live music is arranged into concert style listening only for first 30-45 minutes followed by opening the floor for people to dance to the live music.

I have noticed with most musicians that they do know difference between music that they will play for dancing and non dancing. Which is good.

The quality of original music is pretty high despite it being a passion project. Or may be because it is a passion project the original compositions are good.

 

[pianistamediano]

It appears that the canon of contemporary tango music that can be played at traditional milonga is fairly big. So the music is not dying.

The main problems I have with playing more than two or three tandas of contemporary tango music in a milonga — even spaced out — is the often less-than-ideal sound production and the vague but growing feeling of same-ish-ness that is only exacerbated by how many orquestas try to capture varying degrees of the D'Arienzo magic. I still enjoy dancing to them, but from the perspective of maximising my own enjoyment, I like a good core of '29 (only because of Dios Momo, Viento Norte and Chiqué) to '60s tangos, surrounded by select modern tandas, with a bit of alt sprinkled in.

 

[pianistamediano]

Organizers are the problem then

They've got to appeal to the lowest common denominator to survive, mate.

 

[ArbeeNYC]

Contemporary but still ostensibly "traditional" (in some way) orchestras include:
Tango Bardo, La Juan D'Arienzo, Romantica Milonguera, Andariega, Orquesta Típica Sans Souci, Solo Tango Orchestra, Color Tango, Fabio Hager Sextet (bit old), Cuarteto Soltango, Sexteto Cristal, Fervor de Buenos Aires, Misteriosa Buenos Aires, Orquesta Típica Tanturi, Orquesta Típica Pichuco, Pablo Valle Sexteto, Orquesta Social Tango.

Others less traditional include Sexteto Andiamo, El Cachivache, La Santa Calavera, Amores Tangos, Duo Fuertes Varnerin, Orquesta Típica Fernando Fierrez, Hyperion Ensemble, Conjunto Berretin, Beltango, Las Bordonas...

Oh, thanks for the list. I didn't realize there were so many. I know some of them and like some of them. Danced to a gorgous tanda a month ago by an orchestra I didn't know and it turned out to be Misteriosa. I've always liked Sexteto Cristal and much of Romantica Milonguera. Not a huge fan of Cachivache, etc.

 

[ArbeeNYC]

Muy main problem with Otros Aires/Gotan/Bajofondo is that they tend to meander around and never get to a point; it would fine if the tracks weren't over five minutes long. They're good vehicles for encouraging experimentation in movement, I suppose, but they don't inspire me to dance.

I used to here Gotan at some outdoor events, but you only need one song to make a tanda! Great if you're into nuevo dramatics.

 

[ArbeeNYC]

I like a good core of '29 (only because of Dios Momo, Viento Norte and Chiqué) to '60s tangos, surrounded by select modern tandas, with a bit of alt sprinkled in.

Very select and, for me at least, only one tanda of a modern group.

 

[ArbeeNYC]

How many milongas in NYC have 3 songs tandas ?

Many of them, maybe most of them. Was at one yesterday and all the tandas were three songs.