Spitball Army

I was left dangling at the end of a recent post, wanting to illustrate a musical description with an audio clip, but not being able to find it.  Many thanks to the overactive online music community for this one:

[audio:8.5_Souvenirs___Tango_Lunatico.mp3]
“Tango Lunatico” (1997), by 8½ Souvenirs

I had said:

8½ Souvenirs were a specialty band, very much like Squirrel Nut Zippers and Pink Martini, who created music rooted in an older idiom, but with a “modern sensibility.”  Pink Martini’s touchstone is lounge music, the Squirrel Nut Zippers were into gypsy jazz, and 8½ Souvenirs leaned heavily on swing and tango.  “Tango Lunatico” was indeed an insane tango number, complete with a wailing, screaming wordless female vocal.  I’ll find that somewhere and post it, ’cause it must be heard to be believed.