Entertainment Weekly - "[W]ith rich arrangements, smoky Spanish vocals, and unexpected flashes of eerie, erotic tension." -- Grade: B
Q (p.114) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[Lunatico] succeeds in sounding exotic with its sinewy rhythms, piano-led mini-dramas and the most voluble vocals of Cristina Vilallonga..."
Down Beat (p.66) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "More pop than its predecessor, each track comes decked out with a hook or two....LUNATICO is even intrepid enough to include the cinematic cowboy sounds of Calexico."
JazzTimes (p.113) - "Gotan's much-anticipated follow-up still offers beats, but overall it explores more folkloric elements....There's a lot going on..."
Dirty Linen (p.66) - "The way the group combines the alluring sounds of the tango with subtle shadings of dub and electronica makes for music that is stately, melancholic, and timeless."
The distinctive sound of the Gotan Project, which merges electronica with tango and other traditional South American forms, is further refined and expanded on the group's sophomore release, LUNATICO. The album is more eclectic and ambitious than its predecessor, with intriguing instrumentation that includes bandoneon and strings. Guests include Calexico and vocalist Christina Villalonga (who join forces on the striking opener "Amore Porteno"), rapper Xoxmo, and musical director Gustavo Beytelmann, among others. LUNATICO finds the Gotan Project immersing itself more deeply in the tango, while still trafficking in trip-hop, downtempo, and ambient textures, creating a fine example of fresh, world music fusion.