Mukele
Quylombo (Chana Records, 2009)
Quylombo is the second release by Argentine guitarist and vocalist Mukele. The Buenos Aires native is at the forefront of contemporary fusion music in Argentina. He is deeply influenced by Afro-Latin music, specially the sounds of Cuba and Brazil. If you think that one of the Cuban vocals sounds familiar, that’s because Mukele sampled the late Lazaro Ros. Among Mukele’s other influences are Afrobeat, American funk, fusion jazz, soul and hip hop beats (thankfully no rapping).
According to Mukele, “the Quylombo has traditionally been used to described a haven for runaway slaves and other societal “misfits” whom resisted colonial rule throughout Latin America.” Mukele uses Quylombo to describe his socially conscious and thought provoking lyrics that create a safe haven for those that refuse to be complacent and believe in the strength of the human spirit.
The band featured on the album includes Mukele on vocals and guitar; Gabriela DeLorenzo on vocals; Choco on bass; DJ Kuroki; and Carlos Salas on percussion.
In 2000, Mukele was a member of the Black Rock Coalition with his band Standar in the United States. He participated in the compilation CD The Bronze Buckeroo Rides Again, together with other artists such as: Vernon Reid of Living Colour and Dave Fiuczinsky of the Screaming Headless Torsos.
In 2006, he released his first album, Ubuntu with Suramusic label. That same year Ana Utrero (Spain) and Ximena Talento (Argentina) edited and directed the video clip Tribo from the album.
With Quylombo , Mukele crosses musical boundaries easily with a combination of infectious rhythms from various parts of the African diaspora.
Buy Quylombo
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
