BLACK SUGAR Vinyl & CDs

Review: Peru has enjoyed a thriving and exciting music scene since the mid-1960s. Bands such as Los Saicos, Los Shain's, and Los York's, to name just a few, released a number of brilliant records that drove young fans crazy and set an example for many to follow. The end of the decade brought about an evolution in sound and new music, as Peruvian bands kept an eye on the groundbreaking British and US artists. One of them was Traffic Sound, founded in Lima in 1967. Over a very short period of time the band managed to successfully develop their career, and by 1971 their Latin influences had overpowered the psychedelic prog vibe of their previous records. The song became a local hit and several versions were recorded by different Peruvian artists. On the other side of this single we find Black Sugar, a Peruvian band considered to be a pioneer group in Latin America in mixing funk influences with rock and Latin rhythms. In 1976, following their gig at Coliseo Amauta in Lima, opening the night for the legendary Spanish band Barrabas, they started to show a growing interest in disco music, resulting in some line-up changes with members leaving the project due to their lack of interest in the new sound and new ones joining in. Their own take on 'La Camita' was released in 1978, and adds a modern twist to the original song.

Review: Black Sugar was a relatively short-lived but influential Peruvian Latin rock, soul and jazz group. They got together in 1968, dropped two albums and several singles, then disbanded in 1975. Their eponymous Black Sugar album was the debut in 1971 and it has stood the test of time, to be sure: mixing up all forms of jazz, funk and soul, it's a richly layered album of instrumental sounds that range from the steamy and tropical bliss of 'This Time' to the more dance floor facing 'Understanding' which has high-speed 60s-spy cop theme tune vibes.