Tags: Cumbia

Review: Willie Colon's El Juicio is a seminal piece of salsa history, originally released in 1972 and featuring the hits 'Aguanile', 'PiraNa' and 'Timbalero'. Colon is one of the all-time greats of salsa, and his recordings alongside Hector Lavoe are some of the truly defining works of the genre. El Juicio was the third album from the pair to go gold after 1970's Cosa Nuestra and 1971's La Gran Fuga so you know they were on a roll. This 50th anniversary edition is the perfect opportunity to catch up on an essential document of salsa, for those new to the genre and lifelong fans alike.

Review: Given that it can be tricky to track down the original album releases by Colombian 'salsa drura' greats Fruko Y Sos Sus Tesos, this compilation from Vampi Soul makes an excellent introduction to their trademark sound - even if it is made up of 'deep cuts and rarities; from the band's releases on the iconic Discos Fuentes label. This is fiery, dancefloor-ready salsa from the era of psychedelic rock, and it's that aural colour and low-end heaviness that catches the ear throughout. There's not a duffer amongst the 20 tracks on show, which makes picking highlights tough. That said, our current favourites include 'Bang Bang (el Tiroteo', the effervescent 'Oriza', the horn-heavy cheeriness of 'Perlas Negras' and the richly percussive 'Canto a Panama'.

Review: El Tic Tac by the Cuarteto Yemaya quartet is a cult, expensive and hard to find treasure form Latin America. It was the band's second album back in 1971 and offers up a great set of Peruvian tunes with a Cuban flavour and irresistibly sunny feels. Pancho Acosta's electric guitar denies much of the record and is backed up with conga and timbales. This is the first time it has ever been reissued and has been remastered from the original tapes for the occasion. Do not sleep on this classic.

Review: Another vintage cumbia movement on 7", replete with cowbell, on Nu Tone. Specialising in two-trackers, these guys draw on the deeper wells of 60s and early 70s Peruvian psychedelia; here the Bay Area group Combo Tezeta fuse cumbias, chichas and musica tropical; The A brings 'La Danza Del Camaleon', a swirled world fusion of cumbia and salsa with psych-tinged flourishes, before 'La Reina Nocturna', a shadowy, slow-burning bolero that leans into moodier territory with a haunting, Horrors-y melodic line.

Review: La Ruka is a prominent artist from Colombia's Pacific Coast. She blends hip-hop, salsa, Afro-Colombian roots and urban Latin genres in her music even though she is now based in Barcelona. Her live shows are always high on energy and tunes of hers like 'No Quiero Marido' and 'Todo Es Plata' are some of many standouts from the last 20 years. Her lyrics often focus on Afro-descendent women and life in Buenaventura and this new EP is another injection of Latin rhythms direct to your soul. Each one is sun kissed and percussive with irresistible production from the likes of JMoney, Village cuts and Lanzapro.