CD Review: Chancha Via Circuito's 'Amansara'

Chancha Via Circuito
Amansara
Wonderwheel Recordings 

Argentina's Chancha Via Circuito is spearheaded by Pedro Canale. The electronic meastro incorporates indigenous sounds with contemporary arrangements that are scintillating, at times urban, and Latin dub-step all the way. The instrumental, "Sueno en Paraguay," is an excellent tune with Paraguayan harp and an electronic Andean folkore sound with bits of cumbia, dance, and avant-garde that will please even the purist. There are guest artists, including Lido Pimienta, Mirian Garcia, Sara Hebe, and Barrio Lindo, which provide a well-rounded cast of influences. The percussion-heavy, "Coplita," is a great example of folkloric sounds coming together with female vocals and a South American beat. There are eleven total tracks, which are imbued with electronic, percussion, and native sounds in one easy to understand production that does not stray too far from its roots. This will satisfy cumbia, neo-indigenous, and contemporary listeners seeking music from South America. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Bondi Blaster's 'Lo' Juimo!'

Bondi Blaster
Lo' Juimo!
Stronghold Sound

The music of Argentina is showcased on an inventive and decidedly modern release by San Francisco-based, Bondi Blaster. Bondi Blaster is DJ Juan Data, who experiments with down-beat samples, electronic cumbia, and acrobatic vocals that hint at folk, spoken word, and rap. The album's title is inspired by a classic Colombian cumbia album, Nos Fuimos!, by Corraleros del Majagual. The result is a party-like atmosphere that is void of sleepy, folk tunes. Instead, Bondi Blaster knows how to entice a danceable spirit and youthful exuberance in the listener with foot-stomping and hip-shaking rhythms and melodies. A handful of original compositions, remixes, and instrumentals provide a heterogeneous mix of dance, down-tempo, trance, urban, and nu-cumbia influences with a few pan-pipes that are sure to create a lively and joyful raucous. Anyone interested in South American cumbia, hip-hop, rap, dance, electronica, and funky, good music will find satisfaction in Bondi Blaster's latest hit, Lo' Juimo! ~ Matthew Forss