CD Review: Ciro Hurtado Releases 'Selva'

Ciro Hurtado
Selva
Inti Productions

The Peruvian-born and California-based, Ciro Hurtado, brings to life the sounds of his homeland, which are eloquently captured throughout the new album, Selva. Ciro's roots are found in the album's title, which is Spanish for 'jungle.' The album artwork is as colorful as the music. Ciro's wife, Cindy Harding, provide some vocals, while the music is mainly steeped in Latin fusion, light jazz, and acoustic forays. The pleasant music is never boring or uninspired. In fact, it encompasses some of the best instrumental sounds from the region. There are even classical Indian elements. The album is rather contemporary in its approach, making sure not to veer off too far in any one direction (i.e. rock, folk, fusion, etc.). However, there is a nice mix of lounge melodies, new age concoctions, and simply beautiful sounds that run the gamut from Amazonian, pre-Columbian, and cumbia-inspired tunes. Ciro's guitar and charango work are outstanding throughout. Simply put, this album is perfect for any occasion and any person. This is one of the best 'Latin' albums to ever come out. Own it now! ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Various Artists' 'Peru Bravo: Funk, Soul & Psych In Peru's Radical Decade'

Various Artists
Peru Bravo: Funk, Soul & Psych In Peru's Radical Decade
Tiger's Milk Records

Peru Bravo... is an upcoming release from Tiger's Milk Records that brings us the best psych, funk, R&B, dance, soul music from Peru during the 1960's and 70's. There are fifteen tracks that bleed with energy, desire, and fun. Every note is a magical masterpiece on every track. You will hear some raw stuff here by some unknown artists, including Laghonia, Thee Image, Black Sugar, Jeriko, Los Destellos, The Mad's, Los Comandos, Cacique, Los Holy's, and many more. The driving dance beats, garage-rock sound, and wild percussion are all accented with electronic embellishments that give the music a modern edge. The licks and chords are gritty and awesome with loads of psych to play with here. The throbbing keyboards, drum beats, and fluid bass-lines are unmatched. Anyone interested in world psych music will relish its tracks. Fans of Peruvian music will love the unadulterated songs. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Alex Garcia's Afromantra's 'This Side Of Mestizaje'

Alex Garcia's Afromantra
This Side Of Mestizaje
Afromantra Records

Alex Garcia is Chilean-born, influenced by Cuban and Peruvian melodies, and now based in New York, where he has mastered Latin jazz, percussion, and world fusion with his latest release, This Side Of Metizaje. The title of the album connotes mixed ancestry of the Spanish variety, which is quite evident throughout the tracks. The tracks are wholly instrumental without any vocal accompaniment. The music is steeped in jazz and jam session overtones with punchy percussion and horns eloquently frolicking along-side the fluid bass, piano, and keys. The music is relatively laid-back with some poignant melodies and rhythms that get the heart racing and the feet moving. Alex, a prodigy on drums, enlists the help of soprano sax-man, Ole Mathisen, Fender Rhodes maestro, Mick Eckroth, and electric bass connoisseur, Ariel De La Portilla. The entire group forms a cohesive unit of musical deliciousness that never gets old. Discover it today! ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Juaneco y su Combo's 'The Birth Of Jungle Cumbia'

Juaneco y su Combo
The Birth Of Jungle Cumbia
The Vital Record

Juaneco y su Combo is the first band to produce a new type of music - jungle cumbia. Peruvian-born, Juaneco y su Combo create psych-funk brilliance with the eighteen tracks on the album. The swishy percussion, bubbling guitar licks, and scintillating sounds are mostly instrumental. The vocals are mostly in the background, but some come to the forefront. The rhythmic psych-funk concoctions are what will make this band famous now throughout the world. The melodies are memorable, repetitive, and dance-worthy. Taken from the ultra-rare original recordings, The Birth Of Jungle Cumbia does exactly what it says and more. Anyone familiar with cumbia, which is a type of Latin-beat music, will find it all very worthwhile. Discover what the jungle has to offer with Juaneco y su Combo today! ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Silvana Kane's 'La Jardinera'

Silvana Kane
La Jardinera
Six Degrees

Born in Peru and based in Canada, the soft-spoken and brilliant Silvana Kane creates a beautiful medley of folksy, South American-tinged compositions that are cheery, poppy, and ballad-esque. The slow, meandering folk song, "Duerme Negrito," is a good song with minimal percussion and instrumentation that is led by Silvana's voice and a distorted guitar. The playful, "La Jardinera," is a sweet song with bird sounds and a light guitar melody. The soft songs are reminiscent of nearby Argentina, Brazil, and Chile. The sweet voice of Silvana is matched by her good looks, which happen to resemble Jordana Brewster - an actress and another South American-native. However, Silvana is not acting here; her music is genuine all the way. Additionally, the ten songs are highly recommended for fans of Peruvian and Brazilian music. ~ 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: Roots of Chicha 2

Various Artists

The Roots of Chicha 2

Barbes Records

The psychedelic music of Peruvian slums is showcased from the recordings of the 1960's through early 1980's on The Roots of Chicha 2. Chicha is not only a musical movement, but a fermented beverage indigenous to South America. Chicha is the Peruvian equivalent of cumbia music that incorporates European instruments, South American beats, and West African styles. The result is a Latin-driven, trance-inducing musical mixture of psychedelic proportions. It is not quite salsa, bolero, merengue...or anything else you've heard before! It features eleven bands including Los Wemblers, Chacalon, Manzanita, Grupo Celeste, Ranil, and more. In essence, the cultural acceptance, or lack thereof, remained remarkably similar to the situation of rai music's social unacceptance in North African society. The 'underground' sound of chicha is refreshing, unique, and enjoyable. Find your Roots of Chicha today! ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: The Salsoul Songstress Cecilia Noel

Cecilia Noel
A Gozar! (To Enjoy)
Compass Records

A Peruvian-native, Cecilia Noel creates an energetic salsa and soul music that warrants a new term, "salsoul", which Cecilia coined. An obvious nod to Cuban and Latin music rumba, jazz, funk, and African elements permeates her musical creations. Most of A Gozar! is sung in Spanish, though English lyrics make a few short appearances. This is a highly danceable album best enjoyed with your favorite dance partner. The lively percussion, brass band section, and vocals section, is salsa performed in a slighty more aggressive style than the more familiar light-hearted, romantic-styled salsa. It is easy to imagine Cecilia Noel dancing around while singing these infectious tracks. The liner notes do not contain song lyrics, but song personnel are included. If you want to heat up your day, play a little A Gozar! and dance the night (and day) away. ~ Matthew Forss