Barbes Vinyl & CDs

Review: La Sonora Mazuren, a vibrant force in Bogota's indie-tropical scene, infuses classic South American rhythms with a modern twist. Drawing on cumbia, chicha, guaracha, and champeta from Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru, the band skillfully merges traditional sounds with synthesisers and electric guitars. Their approach, guided by early innovators like Polibio Mayorga and Eblis Alvarez of Meridian Brothers, creates a psychedelic and forward-thinking blend reminiscent of Tropicalia's golden era. Their latest release, Magnetismo Animal, continues this innovative path. Recorded partly in rural Normandy during a European tour and finished in Bogota, the album explores the concept of animal magnetism as introduced by Franz Mesmer. Each track channels a shared trance-like energy through intricate rhythms and sound experiments. Drawing inspiration from Colombian gaita, vallenato, and cumbia, alongside Peruvian huayno and chicha, the album presents a futuristic take on Afro-Andean traditions with pulsating polyrhythms and psychedelic textures. Featuring members of Romperayo and LA PERLA, La Sonora Mazuren exemplifies Bogota's dynamic new tropical movement, merging past and present in a unique musical journey.