Rrrrr… Rrrrr… (phone ringing) Calling Mike Pigott founder of Masstropicas and Peruvian Vinyl Archivist.
Renz: “Mikey!, what’s up brother!? What you got cooking?”
Mike: “Listen to this….” (Mike plays the 1st test press of El Sonido De Tupac Amaru, a track from Grupo Naranja).
This is how the “New Old Sound” of Masstropicas arrives in my eardrums, and listening, all my thoughts and memories about my mother land starts to appear in my head.
Grupo Naranja comes through the phone. Sending me some very street original sounds from City of COMAS in Lima. Now I don’t know where Grupo Naranja is from, but I’m sure they are not too far from this town. Most of the new sounds came from “Calle Tupac Amaru” in the City of Comas, which is consider the Mecca of “Chicha” or Peruvian Cumbias. There is no hierarchy when it comes to the people’s music, the movement of the people as Fela and Bob used to call it. Chicha was and still is the movement of the people. Go to Lima and party at the most lavish clubs and hear what they are playing after 2am.
Chicha is just a name to separate economic status in Perù, mainly Lima of course, since Cumbia music was in abundance at the capital. Most shows were booked in Lima, the compensation for the bands were always better in the capital. That has changed nowadays. Is not like the late 70’s and 80’s when the genre call “Chicha” was at its highest label of status. Chicha Music or Cumbias Sicodelicas as I love to call it is here to stay, matter of fact, it never left. It was just in hideous from the world and now it has came out to dance and play with all of us who can embrace it.
It was just a matter of time for Peruvian Cumbias to invade the North lands. Jose Luis Carballo is been living in LA for quite some time now and he is consider by most musicians in Lima a pillar of this genre. So yeah, it was just a matter of time for Chicha to arrive in a heavy manner.
What can you say about INFOPESA coming to the north as well. The label that made you dance with Juaneco Y Su Combo and Los Mirlos, Cuarteto Continental, Otto De Rojas if you wanted some funky Salsa. Yeah… Peru time is here and is gonna stay here for a while. And Masstropicas is liking up with the Peruvian Giant Label.
Masstropicas is bringing back the real roots of this genre. What we call in Lima, “La Mata” of the sound. Mike P has traveled and is still traveling to the Jungle’s of Peru as well as Lima and other cities to meet with the bands, producers and executives that formed part to the creation of a huge library of unpublished and forgotten tracks, all Peruvian Cumbias (Chicha).
EL SONIDO DE TUPAC AMARU is the sequal of a beautiful roster of compilation from Peru’s music treasures by Masstropicas Records. What makes this releases original?
It’s the officialism of each carefully licence track from its rightful owner. It makes the LP more valuable to me personally. Being that Mike takes the time and consideration to reach out to the people that created the content he is using to share once again with the world on a higher label.
Vinyl is Masstropicas preference of physical release for the music on the label.
Aside of the unexpected selection of tracks. From most of the songs being sang and chorus by the bands is a beautiful mix of songs. Not your tipical instrumental long play that you can rape and mash-up for your Serato pleasure” hehe. No amigos, this is for the Collection. A very selective choice of songs from various bands and singers. With an extended treat from Centeno’s 7″ disc. which includes 4 extra tracks.
Now speaking of the extra 7″ with 4 tracks, which basically makes it an EP.
CENTENO 7″ is part of this colorful release by Masstropicas Records.
I don’t want to give too much info on each song in the LP. It will take the fun away. I advise you to get a copy today from Masstropicas exclusive distribution label.
http://lightintheattic.net/releases/590-el-sonido-de-tupac-amaru BUY THE LP HERE
I can definitely say that Masstropicas is one of those labels to be on the look out if you are willing to experience an extensive and humble story of Peruvian Cumbia History.
“Mi casa es tu casa, adelante!”
Renz De Madrugada
http://renzdemadrugada.wordpress.com
http://masstropicas.blogspot.com/
Listen Recovery 