Cumbia Beat Vol 1
I discovered this one while randomly searching through some new releases at an online retailer of mp3s. It struck me immediately as a fetching, welcomed addition to the history of Western guitar-centric rock rhythms filtered though Peruvian tastes, sensibilities and musical flair. It’s a collision of cultures – shocking at the time, but now seen as an important catalyst.
In 1968 a few select folk-oriented bands began introducing electric guitars and effects: wah-wahs, delays, over-driven fuzz-tones into what was until then a primarily acoustic Southern hemisphere tradition: Cumbia, drum-based with folk guitars, sometimes an accordion and other percussive instruments. It must have been like Dylan plugging in at Newport.
Cumbia, according to Wikipedia, “ is a Colombian musical style and folk dance that is considered to be representative of Colombia, along with Vallenato. Cumbia originated from the Caribbean coast of eastern Colombia, with folkloric variants in Panama.” It conjures tropical jungles and ritual celebrations in its intricate poly-rhythms.
Tunes by Los Beta 5, Los Mirlos, Los Orientales de Paramonga, Los Sander’s de Ñaña, and Los Wembler’s de Iquitos, recorded between 1968 and 1976, were added to the Deeper Into Music playlist and will pop up throughout the regular playlist. This is trilling, pulsating music that even 40 years after its recording still throbs with life and passion.
The example below begins with La danza de la tortuga by Los Beta 5, a rather conventional entry, followed by the more psychedelic Lobos al escape by Los Orientales de Paramonga.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Download: save as mp3
What do you think? Should Deeper feature more “world music”?
More from Deeper Into Music
- Remembering the Paisleys
- The National's "England" from "High Violet"
- November (LATE!) Wallpaper Update from Christopher Ursitti
Deeper Into Music Recommends
