While all eyes are still in Colombia and the whole remixing of cumbia is starting to get a bit redundant, some people are looking for other sample source and find champeta!
New cumbia borrowed much of its charm and crossover appeal in the ironic factor, in taking out of context its intrinsic kitsch elements. But these are mostly evident in Mexican, Peruvian and Argentine cumbia, in Colombia however, cumbia is revered as a national tradition and making fun of it would be sacrilegious. Champeta, however, that’s a whole different story. That’s where all the low-brow fun stuff is to be found.
Unlike the transnational cumbia (originally from the Caribbean coast), champeta (from the Pacific coast) was never exported beyond the Colombian frontiers and it’s now timidly starting to get some exposure thanks in part to folks like Caballo (a Colombian living in Canada) and Kinky Electric Noise (from Miami) who have just released this EP champetero for free online sharing. Aptly titled Perreo Digital (a trip into electro champeta) the 5 track release works as a great introduction to the genre for the rest of us. Beware, there’s some high voltage dancing involved, you might wanna save this for closer to the weekend.
To download Kinky Electric Noise ft. Caballo’s latest EP Perro Digital, click HERE.