Music lovers in Buenos Aires are gathering at bars, clubs and theaters equipped with sophisticated hi-fi sound systems and listening to classic albums from start to finish. The trend stands in contrast to the streaming era, where listeners often jump from one track to another from a virtually endless catalog of music.
The scene plays out across the city: audiences gather in dimly lit — and sometimes completely dark— rooms furnished with chairs, cushions or beanbags. Many even switch off their phones to enjoy the experience without distractions, challenging the notion that modern audiences have short attention spans.
Recoleta’s Bimbi-Nilo bar hosts its Escuchas on Tuesday nights, Almagro’s Auditorio Cendas stages Música en total oscuridad (‘Music in total darkness’) on Thursdays, and Chacarita’s Artlab presents Escuchas HiFi on Saturdays. Similar listening sessions have sprung in many other bars, cafés, and cultural centers around the country..
The pioneer
The pioneer of the format is Argentine audio inventor Hugo Zuccarelli, who experimented with holophonic sound systems in the early Eighties. His work even caught the attention of Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters and Michael Jackson, though the record industry later favored Dolby Surround system as a way to enhance sound.
