CD Review: Novalima's 'Planetario'

Novalima
Planetario
Wonderwheel Recordings

Afro-Peruvian musical connections have been Novalima's mainstay. Planetario is no exception, as the group continues to perform and preserve Afro-Peruvian and Afro-Colombian stylings, while maintaining a unique identity. The cumbia beat of "Beto Kele" represents a very earthy and infectious track with great percussion and vocals. The entrancing and addictive "Memekume" is more contemporary, but full of trippy elements and sporadic percussion. Novalima brings in artists as far away as the UK, Colombia, and Spain for a globetrotting, musical result that is anything but boring. If edgy, modern, and world-infused musical concoctions are what you seek, then Novalima's Planetario is a must-have. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Kat Parra's 'Las Aventuras de Pasion'

Kat Parra
Las Aventuras de Pasion
JazzMa Records

California's Kat Parra brings us a rousing mix of Ladino and Sephardic-inpsired tunes with a Latin vein and inspiration from Puerto Rican bomba, afro-jazz, rumba, bolero, cha-cha, ballad, jazz, middle eastern, afro-peruvian, and classical music. The classy vocals and sweeping melodies on piano and percussion on "Call Your Name," is especially inviting and filmic. In short, Kat finds all the types of Latin music styles and delicately lines them up here. The superb instrumentation is pensive, upbeat, and showcases a diverse set of musical talents on vocals and instrumentation. The operatic bolero, "Lo Siento Mi Vida," represents a soulful mix of violin, assorted percussion, and vibrant vocals. The Middle-Eastern-tinged, "Yo M'Enamori D'Un Aire," opens with vibrant hand percussion and drones of strings. Kat's voice is free-flowing and emotive. The entire project is well-worth a listen or two or three. It is ideal for fans of sephardic music with a passion for Latin styles, too. ~ Matthew Forss 

CD Review: Novalima's 'Karimba'

Novalima
Karimba
ESL Music

The contemporary sounds of Lima, Peru come alive with Novalima's latest release, Karimba. The songs are richly textured with spicy nuances of aural colours that amaze all who listen to it. The upbeat rhythms and melodies are interspersed with electronic beats, dub sounds, and Afro-Peruvian leanings that never seem to fade away into an abyss of boredom. Leave your gourd shakers and pan flutes at home, as these guys rip up the terrain with exploding sounds of rhythmic beauty and passion that can only come from Novalima's repertoire. As a third release, Karimba shows no signs of falling into a pattern of dull beats or useless embellishments. The twelve tracks are dance-friendly and sure to send goosbumps up and down your body. Some of the more trance-like grooves cement its reputation as a catchy and addictive mix of soulful tunes from South America. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Olga Milla's 'rePercusion: Baladas AfroPeruanas Y Otras Agitaciones'

Olga Milla

rePercusion: Baladas AfroPeruanas Y Otras Agitaciones

Self-Release

Peru's Olga Milla is a songstress that breathes life into the Afro-Peruvian and Creole-influenced melodies and rhythms. With a voice younger in tone and range than fellow countrywoman Susana Baca, Olga maintains a lively voice backed by a talented percussion crew. rePercusion..., which is roughly translated as Afro-Peruvian Ballads and Other Agitations, is a tropical journey with tons of sunny melodies to brighten any day. The Latin, African, and South American elements are perfect for a relaxing evening with the occasional dance step or two. The energetic percussion forces meld wonderfully with the guitar and vocals without ever tiring or fading into a slump of boredom. The fretless bass is enough to satisfy any fan of Peruvian fusion or improvisation. The liner notes contain English summaries of the songs with Spanish lyrics. The only repercussion by owning Olga's latest album will be in the form of an addiction to playing the album over...and over again. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Afro-Peruvian Grooves on 'Pena Vol. II'

Various Artists

Pena Vol. II

Secret Stash

The Afro-Peruvian songs of a meeting place for musicians, or "Pena", were recently released on Volume I last Fall. However, Pena Vol. II attempts to continue to follow-up the success of the previous release with amazing results. The source material was collected on a trip to Lima, Peru by producers and label owners, Cory Wong and Eric Foss. A combination of sweet, folk styles reminiscient of a Latin serenade grace the album's fourteen tracks. A mix of female and male vocals, Latin percussion, and scintillating rhythms mark another fine release of Peruvian culture on audio. Importantly, the release will only be available as a digital download at iTunes, Amazon.com, Napster, and the label's website. The decision to not market the music on vinyl or CD may not hamper sales or hinder the label's progress in any way. The music is perfect for lounging, dancing, or contemplating the next release from Secret Stash. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Peruvian Collective: Pena [CD+DVD]

Pena

Pena [CD+DVD]

Secret Stash Records

Pena is not an ordinary album of Afro-Peruvian music. The brainchilds behind the Pena ‘collective’ of musicians are Cory Wong and Eric Foss. Both men run Secret Stash Records in Minnesota, USA. Pena was born after a trip to Lima, Peru yielded a wealth of excellent opportunities to record several musicians over a seven-day period. Cory’s background in Afro-Peruvian songs and guitar playing allowed for many musical moments that were rather spontaneous, while meeting and rehearsing with the musicians. On Pena, Cory’s guitar is joined by Andres Prado, Eric Kurimski, Alberto, and Javier Choy on guitar, Chico Chavez (percussion), Sofia Koutsovitis (vocals), Jorge Roeder (upright bass), Jorge Perez-Albela, Manuel Vasquez, and Hugo Alcazar on cajon. The songs are lightly seasoned with South American, African, and Latin sensibilities, but they are genuinely Afro-Peruvian. A diverse blend of virtuoso performers provides introspective musicianship on every track. In the same manner, a thirty-five minute DVD accompanies the album. The DVD provides commentary from Cory and Eric, footage of recording sessions, Peruvian instrument history, and various performances of every musician included on the album. What makes Pena particularly unique involves the way it is packaged – in an attractive mahogany-colored, wood case. If you want to experience the life-affirming qualities of the Afro-Peruvian musical heritage, then look no further. ~ Matthew Forss