Rough Guide to Psychedelic Cumbia

I’m so glad that this wonderful genre is finally getting its long deserved international attention. This Rough Guide compilation features what's nowadays being referred to as 'psychedelic cumbias.' If you don’t think you like Latin music, give this genre a try! To northern ears, this South American genre of music is surprisingly accessible. Juaneco Y Su Combo’s ‘Perdido En El Espacio’ kicks the album off in style. It’s got that great cumbia beat, fantastic bongo work, and a rockin’ guitar. The keyboard would have sounded pasé at a time, but it’s been so long that it once again sounds fantastic. This sound encapsulates what’s so wonderful about psychedelic cumbias in general, and this album in particular. The guitar work on ‘Bola Bola En El Tres’ is also good, but Los Orientales De Paramonga’s guitar player uses a wah-wah pedal to full effect. Featuring an ambitious arrangement, Grupo Rosado’s ‘En El Campo’ is a full-blown party. Afrosound’s Latin infused ‘María Isabel’ brings more pep to the party. The keyboard work sounds a bit kitschy, but that’s part of the charm: it’s delightfully kitschy. Then again, ‘Cumbia Profeta’ may be one of the album’s few misses. ‘El Silbido Del Tunche’ is pure psychedelia as the song features vocals that are drenched in echo effects and Santana inspired guitar work. ‘Inca-A-Delic’ says it all for Sonido Gallo Negros’ rockin’ contribution. Money Chica’s song will leave you breathless. Cumbia All Stars' guitar work on ‘La Cumbia Del Parisino’ is absolutely delicious. Chica Libre’s ‘Alone Again Or’ adds variety to the compilation by featuring English lyrics.  M.A.K.U. SoundSystem  plays one of the highlights off “Rough Guide to Psychedelic Cumbia.” ‘Canto Negro’ is eight and a half minutes of mystical, space rock. Imagine a Spanish language Cumbia channeling the psychotropic trance of a slow Afrobeat tune by  Fela . Sonido De La Frontera incorporates digital technology. At this point, it’s clear that the album moves in chronological order and that the second half features contemporary artists. For example, La Yegros’ ‘Ya No Llores’ embraces hip-hop as Miss Bolivia occasionally raps. Cumbia Cosmonauts’ dub infused ‘Colombia’ is a technotronic delight. Frente Cumbiero’s ‘Chucusteady’ delivers a second dose of dub. The collection ends with ‘No Hay Vuelta Atrás,’ which is another cumbia contemporary. The sixty-seven minute “Rough Guide to Psychedelic Cumbia” sits comfortably with both volumes of the great “ Roots of Chicha: Psychedelic Cumbias From Peru ” series. While “Roots of Chicha” and many of the collections out there focus on the cumbias of yesteryear, the Rough Guide compilation gives a well-rounded portrait of the genre in regard to both time periods and countries of origin. Anybody turned onto this genre will eagerly want to invest in any album by  Chica Libre , “ Cumbias Chichadélicas: Peruvian Psychedelic Chicha ” and Juaneco y su Combo's “ Birth of Jungle Cumbia .” Whether you’re a newbie looking for a place to begin, or you're already immersed in this musical adventure, “The Rough Guide to Psychedelic Cumbia” delivers.

Track 14 is amazing! If you listen to mento, klezmer, big band, ranchero, you will enjoy cumbia. The Rough Guide series is outstanding. Highly recommend almost anything in this series. Valved trombone, clarinet, big bass drum, and fuzz guitar! All here for your consumption. Good luck not dancing.

A good introduction to the history and range of psychedelic cumbia. I particularly like the early selections which are closer to cumbia roots, but even the more disco- and experimental sound-oriented cuts found later on the CD are interesting. This isn't among my favorite CDs from Rough Guides, but it's still enjoyable--especially if you like cumbia.

Great cd!

Mistake!

Proud to own in my collection!

Fantastico

Muy buena compilación de tracks, genial de principio a fin. Ya lo tenía en formato digital, pero es un deleite escucharlo ahora en vinilo.