first posted at Mudd Up!
Today I’m going to host WNYC’s Soundcheck from 2-3pm on 93.9FM, then at night – tonight, Wednesday June 23rd – I’ll switch into my DJ /rupture costume and shake up the Que Bajo party.
Tropical enthusiasts will not be disappointed: humid city, rich old cumbias, synthed-up new beats, we got you covered. Geko Jones and I trading off all evening. Santos Party House, $5, 11pm. Village Voice writeup.
para empezar: a nice ‘Cumbia de la Playa’ version, group unknown:
[audio:http://negrophonic.com/mp3/Cumbia_de_la_Playa.mp3]and a 6-minute medley from Ecuadorean genius, Polibio Mayorga. Mayorga’s telltale bounce goes through subtle musical shifts as shouts of encouragement animate a real or imaginary dancefloor. The guy who gave me this CD was worried that, back home, it was old people’s music – but, he said, it would get them dancing every time. There’s little bass in the original; you need to boost the low-end to get an idea of how it’s supposed to sound. “Bass weight”, in dubstep parlance…
I have a wonderful life-affirming Polibio Mayorga / soundsystem hoarding story from Mexico City, will share soon.
[audio:http://negrophonic.com/mp3/Polibio_Mayorga-medley .mp3]
This music’s so catchy it grabbed me I couldn’t sleep weeks at a time. Now I found some other cumbia stuff from the maestro. check mayorga online at energyofsound(.)com/?a=cumbias and on facebook too. audiophile