TAG: Colombia

Jul26

Bituaya – ElectroCaribe (Review)

Bituaya

ElectroCaribe



Straight from Caracas the capital of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, electro-Caribbean Latin hip-hop outfit Bituaya is quickly becoming an act to follow. With a mixture of danceable rhythms, head-nodding beats, and liberating energy, their live performance and their new record ElectroCaribe is a multilayered medley of Latin American music history, socially conscious lyricism, positive thought and excitement—all in a familiar and aesthetically pleasing package speaking to a hip-hop and electronic sensibility.  Their live performance, which I will briefly discuss, is one of the more lively and intimate shows ...

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Jul15

Quantic Presenta Flowing Inferno – Dog With a Rope (Review)

Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno

Dog With a Rope

Released by Tru Thoughts


Currently based out of the Cali, Colombia, Will Holland, also known by his DJ name, Quantic, is once again back from the workshop to present us with his new work, a return back to Colombia’s local stylings with Dog With a Rope under the already-familiar Latin side project Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno. Having become inspired by the rhythms of Colombia and Latinoamérica as a rhythmic whole, Holland has crafted an innovative project that builds from the exotic offerings on 2008’s Death of the Revolution. Sensual and dynamic Latin rhythms ...

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Mar15

Choc Quib Town – Oro (Review)

Choc Quib Town

Oro

Released by Nacional Records


Choco Quib Town is a highly acclaimed Afro-Colombian trio from the blackest and poorest region -- the city of Quibdó in the state of Chocó, and this is their US debut album, Oro. More than one-third of Colombia’s population are of African descent, and the trio is representing a sound that is different from the typical majority of South American music -- actually, it’s similar to that of Brazil. They mix tropical hip hop, traditional Latin and African rhythms, ragga, merengue, and electronica (no cumbia). These are the hybrid urban sounds of Colombia's Pacific coast and it represents the Afro-Colombian neighborhoods they grew up in and the various musical styles that surround them. They were nominated for best new artist at the Latin Grammys, and Oro is a compilation of tracks previously released outside of US, and features production by Richard Blair (Sidestepper). Choco Quib Town have been going strong for a decade, but just now getting the rest of the world to take notice.

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Feb27

Black Man’s Cry: The Inspiration of Fela Kuti (Review)

Various Artists

Black Man's Cry: The Inspiration of Fela Kuti

Released by Now-Again Records


To begin describing the epic importance of Fela Kuti is to write a doctoral thesis on the history of African music from before his birth to the present day. To understand the impact the music of a person such as Fela is to consider the history of struggle, prejudice, racism, and political disenfranchisement as an understandable whole.  In the music of Fela Kuti, we see these positive undercurrents of political awakening, consciousness, activism, empowerment and liberation.  These values are what make the messages embedded in the work of Fela ...

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Aug28

BOMBA ESTEREO: Mythmaking with Colombian Electro-Cumbia Act

Spotlight on Latin's New "It" Band 

Liliana Saumet stalks the stage like a panther and the crowd at Central Park’s SummerStage chants “Fuego” with the huntress during the Latin Alternative Music Conference (LAMC) in July. For the thousands of onlookers, most were hearing Bomba Estereo for the first time. A look, a laugh or the purring cadence of her voice is all it takes to feel the band’s allure.

However, it’s Simón Mejía who is responsible for unleashing Bomba Estereo and their album Blow Up to audiences the world over—from the band’s hometown, Bogota, to London and Denmark. Mejía is the storyteller, weaving together guitar, synthesizers, and a drum machine with more traditional Colombian instruments like the flauta de mill, alegre, maracas, guache, and llamado to make the sonic landscape Saumet inhabits. Recording mostly instrumental work on his own, when the two came together, Mejía found the …

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