The Psychedelic Metamorphosis of Cumbia

Various Artists

Cumbia Beat Vol. 1 – , Experimental Guitar-Driven Tropical Sounds from Peru 1966-1976 (Vampisoul Vampi 116CD, 2010)

The double CD set Cumbia Beat Vol. 1 presents a picture of what was happening in Peru in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Mambo orchestras were replaced by electric bands that fused psychedelic rock elements with cumbia and other Afro-Latin and Andean sounds. Cumbia, originally from Colombia, migrated south and morphed into a new genre called chicha.

Chicha-inspired music has made a come back with groups such as New York-based Chicha Libre and Chile’s Chico Trujillo. Now you can listen to many of the sensational pioneers of this new genre in Cumbia Beat Vol. 1. Artists featured include: Silvestre Montez y sus Guantanameros, Los Orientales de  Paramonga, Los Destellos, Grupo Celeste, Los Mirlos, Manzanita y su Conjunto,  Los Wembler’s de Iquitos, Los Beltons, Los Beta 5, Los Galax, Aniceto y sus Fabulosos, Juaneco y su Combo, Los Sanders de Ñaña, Los Diablos Rojos, Los Átomos de Paramonga, Los Ecos, Los Demonios de Corocochay, and Los Demonios del Mantaro.

The CD set comes with a 36-page booklet with liner notes in English and Spanish, vintage photos and other details.

Cumbia Beat Vol. 1 is an excellent introduction to the vibrant psychedelic scene of 1960s and 1970s Peru which gave birth a to an exciting new genre called chicha.

Buy the album:

• In North America: Cumbia Beat Vol. 1
• In Europe: Cumbia Beat Vol.1