Chicha Libre

Chicha Libre is a Brooklyn-based six-member band founded by Olivier Conan. Its name is a reference to Chicha, which is the name of a corn-based liquor that has been produced in South America since the time of the Incas. It is also the name of a Peruvian musical genre (also known as Peruvian cumbia) on which the band's music is based.[1]

History

Conan was first introduced to Chicha music on a trip to Peru in 2005.[2] Their debut album, ¡Sonido Amazonico!, was released in 2008 on Barbes Records,[2] a label which Conan runs from his home in Brooklyn.[3] They released their second album, Canibalismo, in 2012.[4] They also released an EP, Cuatro Tigres, in 2013, both digitally and on vinyl.[5]

Style

The band's music is based on chicha (also known as Peruvian cumbia), a fusion of rock and roll and cumbia produced by the native population of the Peruvian Andes and Amazon. This music was most popular in the 1960s and 70s in Northern Peru.[6] Conan has described his band's music as "free-form Chicha" and has said they take many liberties with Chicha music.[7]

Reception

Sonido Amazonico received a favorable review from Brendon Griffin. Writing in PopMatters, Griffin said that "...like the best music of any genre it leaves you wondering about the mystery of it all" and gave the album a rating of 9 out of 10.[8] This album was also reviewed by Jon Lusk, who wrote on the BBC's website that the album's music was "too self-conscious and contrived to match the fevered originals."[9] Robert Christgau awarded Cuatro Tigres an A- and wrote that the band "acknowledge[s] their true roots" on the EP.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Eyre, Banning (8 May 2012). "Chicha Libre: Sonic Predators Rock Peruvian Grooves". NPR. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Sonido Amazonico! Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  3. ↑ Shaer, Matthew (26 September 2008). "Spreading the Chicha gospel". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  4. ↑ Gehr, Richard (7 May 2012). "Canibalismo Review". Spin. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  5. ↑ "Chicha Libre". Barbes Records. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  6. ↑ Tangari, Joe (1 May 2008). "¡Sonido Amazonico! Review". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  7. ↑ "Olivier Conan Brings Chicha Music to Brooklyn". NPR. 16 June 2008. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  8. ↑ Griffin, Brendon (26 March 2008). "Chicha Libre: ¡Sonido Amazonico!". PopMatters. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  9. ↑ Lusk, Jon (2008). "Sonido Amazonica Review". BBC. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  10. ↑ Christgau, Robert (2013). "Consumer Guide: Chicha Libre". Retrieved 21 December 2014.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 5/2/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.