Sonido Amazonico! | 
 enlarge | Artist: Chicha Libre
Label: Barbes
Category: Music
List Price: $15.98
Buy New: $9.00
You Save: $6.98 (44%)
New (35) Used (6) from $9.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 15862
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.3
MPN: 17
UPC: 881626910429
EAN: 0881626910429
ASIN: B0013D8JL0
Release Date: March 25, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: brand new, sealed, in excellent condition
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| Tracks:
| • | Sonido Amazonico - Chicha Libre, Public Domain | | • | Primavera en La Selva - Chicha Libre, Conan | | • | Mi Plato de Barro - Chicha Libre, Sampedro | | • | Tres Pasajeros - Chicha Libre, Camp | | • | The Hungry Song - Chicha Libre, Camp | | • | El Borrachito - Chicha Libre, Rosado | | • | Pavane - Chicha Libre, Ravel | | • | Six Pieds Sous Terre - Chicha Libre, Camp | | • | Un Shipibo en Espana - Chicha Libre, Fachin | | • | Indian Summer - Chicha Libre, Losito | | • | La Cumbia del Zapatero - Chicha Libre, Camp | | • | Popcorn Andino - Chicha Libre, Kingsley | | • | Yo No Fui - Chicha Libre, Velasquez | | • | Gnosienne No. 1 - Chicha Libre, Satie |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Chicha is the name of a corn-based liquor the Incas distilled in the days before The Conquest, and the word's mysterious, boozy etymology makes it perfect for the musical style that bears its name. Chicha - the music - was spontaneously distilled during the culture clash of the '60s when the Indian population of the Peruvian Amazon blended Columbian cumbias with American rock & roll, particularly the twang heavy sound of surf music. With cheap electric instruments, Amazon Indians used the syncopated beat of cumbia as the foundation for melodies that sound to western ears like Andean folk music played on electric guitar supported by Tex-Mex style Farfisa. When the Indians moved to Lima, chicha became a thriving subgenre, but since the 70s the style has been dying out. Olivier Conan, owner of New York's Barbes nightclub and record label, discovered the music on a 2005 trip to Peru. In 2007, he put out a compilation called The Roots of Chicha. The music so captivated New York's downtown crowd that he put together Chicha Libre, a combo comprised of New York's musical scene makers, and started playing the old hits, and some new compositions, to packed houses. Part of the charm of the old chicha recordings had to do with their distorted, lo-fi approach, something that you can't match in a Manhattan recording studio. Nonetheless, Sonido Amazonico!, named after a hit by the chicha band Los Mirlos, is a sunny, upbeat collection guaranteed to bring a silly smile to your face. Vincent Douglas' plays a twangy guitar and Josh Camp plays a rare Hohner Electravox, an accordion-like instrument that sounds like a 70s Farfisa, anchor the band's timeless sound (the Electrovox is an electric hybrid; no air passes through it).
Like reggae, the chicha groove is so recognizable, and flexible, that almost any style of music can be played using it. The playing here has a lightness and humor that the originals lacked, but Chicha Libre's not making any claims about being authentic or keeping a lost tradition alive. They're playing it for kicks, and they supply plenty of 'em. ~ j. poet, All Music Guide
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| Customer Reviews:
 Cool Blend September 23, 2008
I really enjoyed the mix of the 60's surf sounding guitars with the traditional music of S. America. It has a great "pop" sensability to it and is a refreashing breath of fresh air to hear this music. It is very interesting and I recommend you take a listen.
 Background Music September 10, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
It's good background music. Nothing groundbreaking here. Very simple music- I think I could find 4 guys within 24 hours that could play it. As Niche music it satisfies the bill.
Why would anybody want this? September 1, 2008
3 out of 6 found this review helpful
I bought this album recently at a record store. The album was in the Latin music section of the store, and nothing in the front or back of the packaging warned me about the contents. It turns out that this is a bunch of uninspired covers and imitations of Peruvian chicha music by a bunch of Americans.
Now, don't get me wrong. There are plenty of examples of Americans playing other country's music well, and even admirably. (The best example I can think of: a lot of the classic NYC salsa orchestras from the 60's and 70's had very notable American musicians--Larry Harlow being probably the most famous one.)
However, this is not so in this case. They get two stars because they've got basic competence at this music, and make me yawn more than wince (well, except when they try to sing in Spanish, but I can force myself to forgive that--they're not worse than the Congolese at fake Spanish, and I love the Congolese).
Anyway, if you're thinking of buying this, here's what I'd say: get the "Roots of Chicha" compilation instead. That's what these guys are trying to ape, and it's pretty good (I say 4 stars). Why would anybody want to listen to Chicha Libre instead of the real thing?
 The best export of Peru since Paddington Bear! July 7, 2008
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
Read up on Chicha music. Its sound is inspired from an old Peruvian liquor that may cause hallucinations. The music aspires to treat your senses to a range of sounds and textures. Mission accomplished.
Chicha Libre, a band from NYC is the only Chicha band north of Central America according to the NPR report. I heard some samples of the music on the radio. Based on that I bought the album and will now search out other Chicha bands like a heroin addict looks for his fix. The music is fantastic. Its a mix of Latin and surf rock that is tied so perfectly together it isn't clear when you are surfing in San Diego or in a small village in the Andes. The music rolls along with continuing baselines that give the listener a sense of traveling, movement, or surfing (duh!).
When I listen, I'm surprised this mix hasn't happened more often. I believe Chicha Libre brings out more of the surf rock style than a more traditional band, but I'll have to find out for myself. The sound from Chicha Libre is at different times mellow, exciting, traditional, and innovative. So far I like #12, Popcorn Andino the most. There is an appropriate mix of jam sessions that include key boards and maracas.
Side note: I'm a big fan of Os Mutantes, a psychedelic rock band from Brazil from the 70's. From a historical perspective It is nice to see their music was not created in a vacuum. Chicha music either inspired that style or is influenced by it. Either way, if you liked the Latin music that occasionally drifts off to shoe-gazing, you are well on your way to enjoying Chica Libre.
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