They formed in 1999. Their first release was Vuelvo Al Sur/El Capitalismo Foráneo in 2000, followed by the album La Revancha del Tango in 2001. Their music is clearly tango, but also uses electronic elements such as samples, beats and breaks.
Live material was broadcast on Gilles Peterson's world music show Worldwide on BBC one in May 2004. Philippe Cohen Solal has also released a DJ set: Inspiracion, Espiracion (P. Cohen Solal DJ Mix) (2004). This album is a compilation of classic tangos from the likes of Anibal Troilo and Astor Piazzolla and Gotan Project remixes. The album also includes a bonus CD with the track La Cruz del Sur - which was meant to be included on La Revancha del Tango, but didn't make the cut in 2001.
Their last album Tango 3.0 was released on April 19, 2010.
The name of the trio comes from a form of wordplay very common in Rioplatense Spanish's argot named vesre. This wordplay involves the reversal of syllables. Thus, the word 'Tan-go' becomes 'Go-tan', the name the trio have chosen for their project.
El Mensajero
Gotan Project Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Porque no me queda nada
Tironean los recuerdos
En mi alma atormentada
Me retumba el corazón
Como caja destemplada
Persiguiendo un resplandor
A través de la quebrada
Nubes de plata en el horizonte
Voy galopando sin saber a donde
Hoy llegó un mensajero
Las alforjas en llamas
Sin sacarse el sombrero
Dejó caer su puñal
Me acaricia el rumor
Del agua entre las piedras
Fluye desde el interior
Desde el centro de la tierra
Busco el jardín de las flores blancas
Quizás este detrás de aquella barranca
La mejilla en la arena
Y el caballo en el río
Quisiera echar las penas
Sé que te voy a soñar
The lyrics of Gotan Project's song "El Mensajero" appear to describe a journey that the singer is taking, both physically and emotionally. The singer is running away from something and feels tormented by memories that pull at their soul. Their heart beats erratically, symbolizing their unsettled state of mind. They are chasing after a glimmer of hope that they can see in the distance, hoping to find a way out of their current difficult situation. The singer describes the scenery around them, including silver clouds on the horizon and water flowing between stones, as they try to escape their troubles.
Suddenly, a messenger appears, carrying flaming saddlebags and leaving his dagger behind without removing his hat in a gesture that suggests urgency. The singer is calmed by the sound of water and sees a potential haven, a garden of white flowers behind a nearby bluff, where they hope to find peace. They long to lay their head on the sand and let the horse run free in the river, finally letting go of their troubles.
The song is open to interpretation, but the overall theme seems to be one of seeking freedom from inner turmoil, with the messenger symbolizing a guiding force or perhaps a source of redemption. The lyrics are accompanied by a melancholic tango melody, adding to the overall feeling of longing and uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
Voy corriendo, escapando
I am running away because I have nothing left.
Porque no me queda nada
There is nothing left for me here.
Tironean los recuerdos
Memories are pulling at me.
En mi alma atormentada
My tormented soul is haunted by these memories.
Me retumba el corazón
My heart is pounding heavily within me.
Como caja destemplada
My heart is beating so loud that it sounds out of tune.
Persiguiendo un resplandor
I am chasing a glimmer of hope.
A través de la quebrada
Through the rocky terrain.
Nubes de plata en el horizonte
I see silver clouds on the horizon.
Voy galopando sin saber a donde
I am galloping without knowing where I am going.
Hoy llegó un mensajero
Today, a messenger arrived.
Las alforjas en llamas
His bags are on fire.
Sin sacarse el sombrero
He did not remove his hat.
Dejó caer su puñal
He dropped his knife.
Me acaricia el rumor
A whisper soothes me.
Del agua entre las piedras
A stream flows over stones.
Fluye desde el interior
It comes from deep within.
Desde el centro de la tierra
From the center of the earth.
Busco el jardín de las flores blancas
I am searching for the garden of white flowers.
Quizás este detrás de aquella barranca
Perhaps it is behind that cliff.
La mejilla en la arena
I rest my cheek on the sand.
Y el caballo en el río
My horse is in the river.
Quisiera echar las penas
I wish to cast away my sorrows.
Sé que te voy a soñar
I know I will dream of you.
Contributed by Leo E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Trinidad Chaparro
Qué bonito tocan el tango los argentinos, excelentes músicos.
Alfredo Cruz
Essa música... ❤️
Dan Tovar
siempre adentro en el corazon!! gracias por mantener el tango vivo y en evolucion.......hermosas canciones !
Terry Anderson
great work on their part. Vocals / harmonies were spot on. Interesting musicality and vocal interjections...well placed and done ever so "cool" .new one for me so has me excited from the get go.... good job, thanks to poster..
Camila Romero Partal
Qué buena música!!!
Jessica Kon
Talk about a song that makes you feel shivers in all your skin. You feel 'em going up your legs, back, arms, all your fucking hair gets up! LOVE THIS!
Jose Alejandro Zambraz
Voy corriendo, escapando
Porque no me queda nada
Tironean los recuerdos
En mi alma atormentada
Me retumba el corazón
Como caja destemplada
Persiguiendo un resplandor
A través de la quebrada
RoCh
Experienced the show at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles years ago. Simply Awesome!!
RoCh
Gotan Progect Saw them in Los Angeles unprecedented !!!!!!!
Stan Marge
Muy bueno