The late sixties brought the country folk to the cities of Peru following the oil boom and a new genre was born, named after a corn drink popular with Andean folks who turned it into a soft drink or mild alcoholic beverage. It says a lot about the class of people who popularised this music, who in the main came from the poorer neighborhoods. It’s a sound that evolved from the cumbia though was profoundly influenced by English and American music, particularly surf guitar. We’re talking traditional Latin rhythm sections of congas bongoes and timbales with more rock elements like electric guitar bass, drums, Moog synths and Farfisa organs. You can hear the psychedelic pop elements in the raw riffing guitars in the vocal harmonies, though the fusion aspects make this music nothing short of amazing. Music’ ability to cross pollinate across cultures never ceases to amaze and you would be hard pressed to find such a short lived joyful though odd western influenced indigenous music. It’s all about wah pedals about cheesy synths, killer percussion, and there’ some great (Iron Butterflyesque) off kilter organ solos. The music is rickety but funky, feeling like it might fall apart or trip right out into the ether at a moments notice. You can’ go wrong here, but surely you already knew that, everything you need to know is in the title of this incredible release.
Bob Baker Fish
