Review:
Cumbia has had something of a revival over the last few years, with its familiar rhythms being used by a host of Brazilian beat makers especially. But it's specifically Peruvian interpretations of cumbia that dominates this collection from the Vampi Soul label. The collision of cumbia rhythms and the early 60's beat guitar influences shines though on opener "El Avispon" by Silvestre Montez y sus Guanatameros, featuring loud twangy guitars played in a distinctly South American style. An instrumental with some virtuoso percussion breaks, it's a delight, as is "Los Orientales de Paramonga" by Lobos Al Escape. It's a freakbeat tune with vicious wah-wah chords and lead melodies similar in sound to Ennio Morricone's familiar spaghetti western soundtracks, and all underpinned by that unrelenting cumbia rhythm. This exhaustive collection highlights a fascinating and criminally underrated clash of styles and cultures from the '60's and more importantly is full of some fantastic tunes of a strange and rare pedigree.