Tags: Latin

Review: Analog Africa has got their sights firmly set on Peru right now as they drop two vital new records on the same day. This one is the second volume of Sonic Expedition into the Peruvian Amazon with a specific focus on the years 1972 to 1986 across four sides of vinyl. It is a thrilling collection of high-energy Cumbia that indulges plenty of guitar-driven instrumentals that take you deep into the heart of the jungle. From the trilling acoustic riffs of Sonido Verde De Moyobamba's 'La Cervecita' to Los Invasores De Progreso's more slow and sun-kissed 'La Bola Buche,' this is a glorious listen.

Review: Cumbia or chicha is a richly and widely infused sound that brings together a multitude of influences. It has styles from Colombia and Cuba, plus Western influences including the likes of 60s beat and psychedelic rock, plus an exotic array of indigenous melodies from the Amazonian jungle as well as a weakth of traditional Andean songs. The music that realists is vibrant and vivacious and packed with life and is all perfectly showered here on this superb new collection of tracks by the most important bands of the golden age of the sound.

Review: Global groove trotters and world renowned compilers Analog Africa are back with another gem for your collection, this time looking deep into the sounds of the golden age of Mexico City's mobile soundsystems. Super Disco Pirata - De Tepito Para El Mundo 1965-1980" is a musical adventure with no fewer than 23 red hot jams of topical greatness all ready to get asses shaking and floors full. They have been taken from "the finest and strangest pirata LPs" and they all shine bright from Enrique Lynch's bright and brassy 'La Quinta Sinfonia De Beethoven' to Gabriel Meza Y Su Organo Chevere's 'La Luna Y El Pescador' with its rather haunting organ melodies and shuffling samba rhythms. A real treat for world music lovers.

Review: Vampi Soul's latest release is not a reissue, but rather a brand-new album of Peruvian chicha music - a kind of psychedelic, fuzz-fuelled sound that shares some sonic similarities to Cumbia, but also slightly more salsa-soaked rhythmic shuffle - played, performed and produced by self-styled "future cumbia" combo Money Chicha. It's a fantastic album of tropical psychedelia, with the Austin-based outfit - supplemented by a handful of legendary South American musicians - serving up brand-new compositions that sound like they were recorded in the golden era of chicha decades ago (think Santana style electric guitar solos, infectious Latin percussion, funk bass, flanged rhythm guitars and effervescent vocals). In our collective opinion, Chicha Summit is a genuine must-check release.

Review: Analogue Africa's latest deep dive into the forgotten corners of global music culture shines a light on Mexico's 'pirata' (bootleg) compilations of the early 1980s - sets that contained edited, pitched down and distorted versions of genuine dancefloor hits from Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and other central and South American countries. The compilations themselves were, of course, highly illegal, came with very strange covers, and - because of the in-demand nature of the music on offer - sold well. It's a great collection of trippy tropical music all told, with the accompanying booklet - written by a local specialist in 'pirata' musical culture - doing a great job of providing background information and showcasing the movement's strong link with Mexico's soundsystem-powered 'dance-party' scene of the turn of the 80s.

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: Hailing from Berlin, Los Baby Jaguars craft vibrant musical journeys that span cumbia, Latin funk and on to Afrobeat. They themselves call their unique sonic cocktail a "tropical rocket" ride through the decades from the 60s to the present and we do not argue with that. Their debut 45 is a double header here, 'Las PiNas' and 'Playa Boogaloo,' released by Nu-Tone with some superb artwork. The music collides cumbia and Afrobeat on a cosmic dance floor amongst the stars and brings an all new kind of energy to international dub.

Review: Los Diablos Rojos is the renowned Peruvian cumbia band that has achieved global recognition for its unique tropical sound while defying fleeting trends with enduring appeal. Emerging from CaNete Chico, their distinct instrumental tropical music set them apart from their contemporaries and over the years, they have led a musical trend that continues to gain acclaim. As pioneers, they serve as a benchmark for modern tropical bands with their creativity and resilience and innovative approach that challenges existing norms. Their musical freshness is on full display in Ritmo Satanico, a truly tropical international delight.

Review: Lagartijeando is a key figure in the alt-Latin electronic scene alongside the likes of Nicola Cruz and Chancha Via Circuito. He makes an essential return here with 7 Caminos, a fourth career long player with Wonderwheel. Recorded between Cholula, Mexico and Tarapoto in Peru, it transports you in double quick time to the South American jungle and Mexican Altiplano volcanoes. Sunny melodies take flight over shuffling rhythms, dubby basslines unfurl like flowers at dawn and intimate vocal whispers bring a human touch to the rhythms. A gorgeous soundtrack to a perfect afternoon of escapism.

Review: In 2019, Resistencia Sonora was born as a collaborative project uniting urban and rural ethnic-peasant resistances in Montes de Maria, Colombia's western Caribbean. Rooted in a musical epicentre renowned for gaita, cumbia, bullerengue, son palenque, son de negro and accordion styles like porros and pajaritos, the initiative celebrates and preserves the region's rich folkloric life. This album documents festive gatherings, knowledge exchange and co-creation inspired by composer Andres Narvaez, a social leader and land-rights activist. His vision brought musicians together to uphold traditions and honour regional elders and this limited edition vinyl includes a 12-page bilingual booklet with extra background.

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: Mi Latinoamerica Sufre is a concept album that seeks to explore the electric guitar's potential in tropical Latin music. Inspired by African highlife and soukous, it reflects the vibrant sounds of Colombian pico sound system dances. The Meridian Brothers are led by Alvarez and embrace a clean, distortion-free approach that pays homage to 70s Congolese rumba, Ghanaian highlife, and Nigerian Afrobeat. The album blends cumbia, champeta, tropicalia and psychedelic rock while remaining centred on Afro-Latino rhythms and through the character Junior Maximiliano the Third, the album humorously explores ego, identity and self-discovery with Alvarez's vocals adding extra charm to what is a sonic and psychological journey.