Gotan Project in a Paris based group that has introduced something new to the nu jazz scene for the first time in a long time. It is unique because it is a groove mix like St Germain but is based on the rhythms and instrumentation of tango. Now that’s one thing, but on top of that, they do it really well. It has the burning passion and pain that is part of the Argentinian tango.

If you haven’t heard of the Gotan Project, you still may have heard them; if you’ve seen the hot argentine tango performed by Jennifer Lopez and Richard Gere in Shall We Dance, then you’ve heard the most popular cut on the album, “Santa Maria (del buen ayre)” which is also on the SACD as track 5.

I’m not going to go on and on trying to describe them because that has already been very well done by Andy Hermann at pop matters. What I do want to do here is tell you how the CD version (XLCD 148) compares to the SACD Hybride (Dual Layer) (981 878-7).

Visually the two versions are very different. The CD is a folded cardboard packaging with no extra booklet. All the information is printed on the cardboard. It’s just cardboard, but I do like the style of it though. The SACD is in the standard Super Jewel Box and does have a single page booklet, but there is no extra information that isn’t already on the CD version except that DSD was remastered by Universal Music in Paris.

the system

• Pioneer DV-747 with 1000 euros of mods (and silver wired)
• Lavardin IS Reference amp
• Cabasse JAVA MKIV speakers (rewired with silver)
• All wire is AudioLitz silver

I’ve also given this a listen at my hifi buddy’s place who is set up with a dCS P8i SACD player, Flying Mole pre-amp, 2 Flying Mole amps and a pair of truly gorgeous sounding Sonus Faber Cremona speaker.

Listening

Well, I’m starting with the SACD, track 1, queremos paz.
The sound is rich; very deep bass, maybe a bit loose. The highs are very clean, no splash, but maybe a bit too recessed. Let’s put on the CD and see what that does.

EEIIIK! It’s dry, dry, dry! The bass sounds tighter, but less deep, the highs are chingy, and the rest sounds dry. I really didn’t expect this kind of difference!
Skipping to track 2; this is a very tango sounding piece with a womans voice. It sounds good, but dry. Switch to the SACD. Fyew! This really is much better. Her voice is much richer, the crying chello is better seperated from the other instruments and the over all space is much improved.
Track 3 – chunga’s revenge; The CD has great bass with the rythmic bass on this cut.
Track 5 santa maria (del buen ayre) – This is my favorite, and from here on out the cuts just get better and better. This is cool music. I still can’t get over just how dry the CD is compared to the SACD. The SACD is not velvity, but it is much better texturally and sound stage is better defined. But the biggest difference is the highs which are free from the ching chings on the CD.

This disc gets a lot more play on my system than most, and is the first disc to go on when company comes over. It is kewl groovin and is something special at the same time, and gives gives a good excuse to turn it up.

The only negative is the bass that comes out a bit loose on my system, but was just perfect on my friends rig with the Sonus Fabers. But the truth is, everything sounds amazing on his system.

Well I think it is certainly worth the effort to get the SACD. The only place I have seen it is on Amazon France. You can also here the track samples there. If you find it anywhere else, please let me know and I’ll add a link here.

This difference really makes me wish even more that record labels would release far more titles on SACD. I would especially like to see the fantastic CD of rodrigo y gabriela on SACD!

Until next time.