Empanadas Ilegales - LABORATORIO TROPICAL (We Are Time) [Tropical]
From the frostier end of the Americas, Empandas Ilegales are mixing up quite the pan-Latin cocktail, giving things a lysergic shake, a twist of rock and some random genre infusions for a zingy, zesty, crowd-rocking, smile-inducing Tropical music win. So say hello to hitter of things Daniel Ruiz, the bass-playing Daniel Hernandez Pinto, Jaime Millan on guitar, Jocelyn Waugh's trumpet-blowing, shaker and singer Andrea Milagros, and on this particular single, some harp from Elisa Thorn. Dress to sweat.
I like their thinking too; the opening single "Elbis Cresli" is their reflection on "the artificial personalities and disposable emotions that dominate so much chart music", not far off the driving force behind The Slow Music Movement. Thorn introduces the track with a celestial strum of her instrument, and then it's sugar-rushed Afro-Colombian party time - what a banger, this crew are tight and tireless.
After the opening exertions, the crew slip into the more recognisable cumbia sounds of "La Marcha de los Nenes", albeit with a full-bodied live sound and sonic intensity quite often missing in much of the electronic-driven cumbia revival of the last couple of decades. Next up is the salsa-seasoned "Agua e' Coco", the band's communal exaltations both enthusiastic and contagious, as if the already excited dancers needed any more encouragement.
And so the album continues, somewhat breathlessly, on its unrelenting dance floor devastating mission, with only the ambient ritualism of "Interludio Espaxial", allowing pause for cosmic thought, before "La Tractomula" drags you, no matter how tired or spaced out, back onto the floor. If I were more of a Latin aficionado, I'd go into depth on the twelve tracks' stylistic nuances, but all I can say is be prepared to sweat. This is not an album for the frail of hip or high of heel; there's serious dancing to be done.
If you're still craving some psychedelic Latin sounds then head over to Charlie Chimi's Disco Chimi album for a more funktified, pan-Latin dancefloor delight.
Playlist Companion
Find Empanada Ilegales in the End of Week Freak Playlist.
