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.

For the past 15 years, Zuccarelli has hosted public listening sessions to showcase his invention, which records audio so accurately that it creates a total spatial illusion. Known as Music in the Dark, the sessions were first held at Teatro Ciego, El Cubo, Vuela El Pez and Uniclub. Eventually, it morphed into a resident show at Ciudad Cultural Kónex, where it became a staple until the COVID lockdown. He now plays classic albums at Teatro Cendas (Bulnes 1350) and Rosario’s Cine Monumental (San Martín 993).

“I created the format for listening to records in high fidelity, with holophonic speakers. The concept is copyrighted, but I let other people use the idea even though they should ask for permission,” he told the Herald. 

His favorite albums to showcase his sound system are Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall, Astor Piazzolla’s Libertango, The Beatles’ Abbey Road, Gustavo Cerati’s 11 episodios sinfónicos, and any compilation of Queen’s Greatest Hits. He also points to Billie Eilish’s recordings, whose deep bass frequencies are particularly well suited to the system.

“It’s fascinating how people react when they listen to music they already know and discover instruments, subtleties, and details they hadn’t heard before. In other words, you’re invited to something you already know, but you’re discovering it for the first time,” he said.

Noel Yolis, artistic director of Ciudad Cultural Kónex, remembers Zuccarelli’s sessions as well as another one that lasted until 2022, also with iconic local and international albums. 

“We had a special room with hi-fi audio, where people entered a completely dark room to listen and feel the music. It was a huge success, with albums by Soda Stereo, Pink Floyd and Charly García, but we discontinued it after the COVID lockdown due to a shift in consumer’s habits,” she told the Herald.

The Artlab experience

In 2015, former DJ Gonzalo Solimano created Artlab (Roseti 93) and became a leading figure in the electronic music and digital art scene in Buenos Aires. The venue features a hi-fi audio-video system built around legendary Altec Lansing A7 loudspeakers, which were originally purchased for the gallery before being moved to the concert hall. 

“That inevitably led us to offer listening sessions that at first showcased ambient and experimental music, but we soon included rock, pop and hip-hop albums, super mainstream stuff,” he said to the Herald.

The response exceeded expectations: 600 people attended two listening sessions of Daft Punk’s Homework in a single evening. “We never imagined how all this affects people. Our intention was to create a space where they could come, disconnect for an hour and listen to a whole album, rediscovering songs that marked an era,” he said.

He describes the audience as remarkably diverse, ranging in age from 18 to 70. “The common denominator is curiosity for art and culture,” he says.

At first, audiences listened while standing or sitting comfortably on oversized pillows and tatami mats. But Solimano soon realized that the sound varied if someone was listening at floor level or standing up, so he decided to buy 150 seats.

In July, Escuchas HiFi will feature two Saturday night sessions, with albums by artists such as Lana del Rey, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Gorillaz, Pescado Rabioso, Portishead, Depeche Mode, Pink Floyd, and Roxy Music, all presented by a music expert.

“I think we’re all inevitably experiencing a serious problem with attention and anxiety because of our fast-paced lifestyles, which give no one a break. Humanity is looking for rituals, spaces for connection, and that is why people like to listen to vinyl records and share the experience with friends,” he concludes.

Music as a meeting point

Patricio Moltini is one of the owners of Bimbi-Nilo (José León Pagano 2750), a basement listening bar that combines cocktails, wine and hi-fi audio equipment that is ideal for listening parties.

“Our sessions began as a way to give music a different space within the bar, and to promote a way of listening that isn’t so common these days: dedicating time to an entire album, in a shared setting and with attentive listening, he told the Herald. 

The format is simple: they choose an album, give a brief introduction about the artist, the context, or the story behind the record, and then listen to it from beginning to end, without interruption. The goal is to create an immersive experience where people can discover new music or rediscover familiar albums from a different perspective. 

In an era where people often listen to songs quickly and in isolation, guided listening invites audiences to slow down and connect with an album as a complete work. 

“It also has a strong social component: it’s not just about listening to a record, but also sharing that moment with other people, exchanging opinions, and becoming part of a community that uses music as a meeting point,” Moltini concludes.

Cover photo: Soda Stereo drummer Charly Alberti and Artlab director (credit: Mateo Cianfoni)