Adrian Phillips says, "don’t let the alarming image of a donkey’s jaw on the cover of Neuvos Sonidos Afro Peruanos by Radio Kijada put you off, the sounds within are vibrant, varied and vital".
A joint venture between composer and percussionist Rodolfo Munoz and Gotan Project member Christoph H. Muller, it takes Afro-Peruvian music and layers it with a western twist. From the incessantly rhythmic and brass driven Tuma y Cajon to the Latin Jazz of Lima-Paris you can hear the influences that made La Revancha del Tango such a massive hit for Muller’s other ‘project’ in 2001, but this is no pale imitation.
Traditional Peruvian instruments including the cajita (church money box) and the aforementioned donkey jaw give the release an authentic sound that isn’t swamped by the slick production. There is also room for some superb guitar and piano work and powerful vocal performances from Martha Galarraga, Rosario Goyeneche and Carlos Mosquera.
A wonderful mix of tempos and aural textures the album doesn’t fall prey to the ‘sameness’ that releases from the continent sometimes have and it will certainly have you heading for the dance floor. I just hope that no animals were harmed during production!
