Various Artists - The Rough Guide to Psychedelic Cumbia (Vinyl)

Influenced by the western psychedelic culture of the late 1960s, Colombian cumbia was reborn to make it relevant to the younger generation. Add into the mix the strong surf culture in coastal Peru and Mexico, and conditions were ripe for such incredible experimentation.

If you don’t think you like Latin music, give this genre a try!

To northern ears, this South American genre of music is surprisingly accessible. Juaneco Y Su Combo’s ‘Perdido En El Espacio’ kicks the album off in style. It’s got that great cumbia beat, fantastic bongo work, and a rockin’ guitar. The keyboard would have sounded pasé at a time, but it’s been so long that it once again sounds fantastic. This sound encapsulates what’s so wonderful about psychedelic cumbias in general, and this album in particular. The guitar work on ‘Bola Bola En El Tres’ is also good, but Los Orientales De Paramonga’s guitar player uses a wah-wah pedal to full effect. Featuring an ambitious arrangement, Grupo Rosado’s ‘En El Campo’ is a full-blown party. Afrosound’s Latin infused ‘María Isabel’ brings more pep to the party. The keyboard work sounds a bit kitschy, but that’s part of the charm: it’s delightfully kitschy. Then again, ‘Cumbia Profeta’ may be one of the album’s few misses. ‘El Silbido Del Tunche’ is pure psychedelia as the song features vocals that are drenched in echo effects and Santana inspired guitar work. ‘Inca-A-Delic’ says it all for Sonido Gallo Negros’ rockin’ contribution. Money Chica’s song will leave you breathless. Cumbia All Stars' guitar work on ‘La Cumbia Del Parisino’ is absolutely delicious. Chica Libre’s ‘Alone Again Or’ adds variety to the compilation by featuring English lyrics. M.A.K.U. SoundSystem plays one of the highlights off “Rough Guide to Psychedelic Cumbia.” ‘Canto Negro’ is eight and a half minutes of mystical, space rock. Imagine a Spanish language Cumbia channeling the psychotropic trance of a slow Afrobeat tune by Fela . Sonido De La Frontera incorporates digital technology. At this point, it’s clear that the album moves in chronological order and that the second half features contemporary artists. For example, La Yegros’ ‘Ya No Llores’ embraces hip-hop as Miss Bolivia occasionally raps. Cumbia Cosmonauts’ dub infused ‘Colombia’ is a technotronic delight. Frente Cumbiero’s ‘Chucusteady’ delivers a second dose of dub. The collection ends with ‘No Hay Vuelta Atrás,’ which is another cumbia contemporary. The sixty-seven minute “Rough Guide to Psychedelic Cumbia” sits comfortably with both volumes of the great “ Roots of Chicha: Psychedelic Cumbias From Peru ” series. While “Roots of Chicha” and many of the collections out there focus on the cumbias of yesteryear, the Rough Guide compilation gives a well-rounded portrait of the genre in regard to both time periods and countries of origin. Anybody turned onto this genre will eagerly want to invest in any album by Chica Libre , “ Cumbias Chichadélicas: Peruvian Psychedelic Chicha ” and Juaneco y su Combo's “ Birth of Jungle Cumbia .” Whether you’re a newbie looking for a place to begin, or you're already immersed in this musical adventure, “The Rough Guide to Psychedelic Cumbia” delivers