Various Artists – The Roots Of Chicha

Various Artists – The Roots Of Chicha (Barbès Records)

The British Invasion didn’t limit its dominating influence just to the states. Worldwide, in various ethnic locales, musicians reconfigured their bands to the format of drums, electric bass and guitar, emulating the sound transmitting from pocket radios and television broadcasts, and out popped such genres as Cambodian rock, Mexican garage rock, and Malaysian pop. Similarly, Peruvians translated the cumbias they’d imported from Columbia, but dropped the featured accordion for a steel twine of the electric guitar. Now outfitted with a surf twang and the modern sound of the Moog synthesizers and Farfisa organs, this new sound -titled Chicha after their native corn drink- was distilled for the working class dance floors in Lima. Recorded between 1968 and 1978, this compilation triumphantly recovers this instantly danceable merging of Afro-Cuban rhythms, Andean melodies and western psychedelia from overlooked, discarded international record bins. Recommended for salsa dancers, fans of underground garage, and discriminating lovers of artistic international hybridization. A true knockout.