Description
Remastered reissue of 1991’s synth-pop pioneers Chris & Cosey’s ‘Pagan Tango’ is a necessary first. This album showcases their uncanny, atavistic traces of bygone exotica and ritual musicks as they step into a new decade. After their legendary debut ‘Heartbeat’, which was released a decade earlier, ‘Pagan Tango’ is a testament to C&C’s spirit-guiding influence in the post-industrial era’s shift to synth-pop and new wave. The album’s occult undertones echo their music’s thematic roots, as well as the rising new age consciousness and neo-folk movements, including PTV. Chris Carter‘s drum programming skills shine through, incorporating intricate latin trills and triplets perfect for dancing. Their sound is comparable to the prevailing energy of body music, latin freestyle electro, Washington Go-Go, and new jack swing, while still capturing the essence of the pagan tango.
Cosey’s sensual vocals and cornet playing add depth and sensuality to the album’s retro-futuristic projections. Their collaboration moves in a direction perpendicular to prevailing trends, with tracks like ‘Ecstasy’, which references the drug culture of 1991 but defies its conventions. The album effortlessly transitions from the echoes of ‘Exotica’ in ‘Synaesthesia’ to the pulsating energy of EBM in ‘Take Control’ and ‘Sin’, as well as the seductive vibes of the title track ‘Pagan Tango’. Tracks like ‘Face to Face’ and ‘Feel to Me’ showcase a sultrier side, while ‘Go-Go Latino’ brings in elements of Washington funk. Throughout the album, the duo’s energy and innovative sound design create a hallucinatory experience, culminating in the mesmerizing ‘Sacred Silence’. ‘Pagan Tango’ is a must-listen for fans of Chris & Cosey, as well as enthusiasts of related artists in the synth-pop and new wave genres.
