Eddie Palmieri - La Malanga When we started Movimientos 10 years ago for me the best thing about the music was the blend of styles salsa, reggaeton and cumbia side by side with latin house, hip hop, dancehall and other alternative global sounds. People often forget that salsa itself was the ultimate melting pot born out of the New York mezcla - our mercurial resident DJ Arias was a Fania Records (the label at the heart of that mix) obsessive and rinsed this stone cold classic to death but ultimately you can never get enough of a tune like this.
Sidestepper - Mas Papaya Arguably one of the most influential tracks for the underground scene in Colombia Sidestepper - the brainchild of UK producer Richard Blair - showed how cumbia, salsa and afro-colombian rhythms could be mashed up with drum n bass, dub and dancehall and set scene for bands like Chocquibtown, Bomba Estereo and the like... this track was probably played on every Movimientos night for the first 3 years!!
Afronaught - Feat. Son Del Batey -- Golpe Tuyo Calinda Whilst reggaeton was blowing up everywhere the UK's own Bugz in the Attic crew journeyed to San Juan in Puerto Rico to hook up with the local musicians there to create a very different urban music fusion. And whilst the 'broken beat' sound might not have had anything like the commercial appeal reggaeton enjoys but this track in particular still sounds so fresh today with it's intoxicating Boriqua brukbeat and afro-latin vocal refrains.
Wara - Leave To Remain (Movimientos Records) It's been so exciting to work with a band like Wara for the last 6 years who totally represent 21st century Latin London with their politically conscious lyrics, mix of cultural backgrounds (Brits, Congolese, Venezuelans, Cubans, Chileans etc) and a fresh sound that mixes heavy Cuban Timba and Salsa rhythms with Hip Hop, Funk and a dance music sensibility. They are currently working on a follow up to 2013's Leave To Remain and the band's main protagonist Eliane Correa has a new mind blowing Afro-Cuban soul jazz project En El Aire that we're happy to be releasing early next year... watch this space.
Los Chinches - Señorita (Movimientos Records) Another defining project for our label was the Los Chinches release 'Fongo'. Swept along by the recent cumbia revival the band (a mix of UK and London Latino musicians) were specifically taken by the psychedelic guitar based sounds of Peruvian Chicha and created their own version which led to innumerable festival rocking shows around the UK and Europe. After a short hiatus and personnel change the band are back with new music to come in 2016.
Voodoo Love Orchestra (Movimientos Records) Emerging from the surprisingly vibrant tropical music scene in Brighton Voodoo Love Orchestra take inspiration from the latin big band sounds of classic Mambo and Cumbia, mixing it with afrobeat, the carnival traditions of New Orleans brass bands and old school funk and soul. The album 'Amor Y Muerte' came out this year with their version 'Sunshine of Your Love' receiving much airplay on Radio 2. Their Day of The Dead themed make up and dress is perfectly showcased on this video a version of the Lucho Bermudez classic.
Uproot Andy - Arroyo en El Barrio (Que Bajo Records) Andy Gilles' productions have long been a staple of the DJs from the tropical and global bass scene (and even featuring in Zumba classes - so i'm hearing) mainly because he manages to keep his blend of afro-latin roots samples with electronic beats and dembows so fresh. This recent release on the Que Bajo label (also the name of his influential NYC clubnight) slaps a monster trap beat onto a Joe Arroyo banger.
Bazurto All Stars - La Manguera ft Koffee el Kafetero Hailing from Cartagena on the Caribbean coast of Colombia Bazurto All Stars are at the vanguard of the new Champeta sound that is so popular in this region - usually made with very lo-fi production techniques the band have brought a fuller live sound to the genre and have slowly been releasing tune after tune collaborating with the likes of Sergeant Garcia amongst others - this one is brand new cut and currently on heavy rotation in my dj sets!
Dona Onete - Jamburana (Mais Um Discos) This septuagenarian singer is a personal favourite - I was already hooked on the Carimbo sound from the Pará region in the North of Brasil (popularised in the 70s by the legendary Pinduca) before hearing her remarkable album - from which this track is taken. It matches her with a band of young musicians, crisp production and range of Amazonian styles with a caribbean lilt and released on the Mais Um Discos label who've done so much to draw attention to alternative brazil sounds in recent years.
Chico Trujillo - La Cura Del Espanto Out of the darkness of the Pinochet years Chico Trujillo have helped Chile re-discover it's party side. Channelling their love of Ska, Rock, Andean music and classic Chilean songs they've created their own unique brand of Cumbia Chilombia. This is my favourite cut from their recent album 'Reina De Todas Las Fiestas' - the force of the brass here is just so powerful and that came across in full effect when we were lucky enough to host their debut UK show as part of our 10 year anniversary this year.
Movimientos will be having their New year's Eve Party at Rich Mix.
For more info: http://www.latinolife.co.uk/events/movimientos-arriba-la-cumbia-present…
