Discos Mas US

Review: El Mero Guero Sonidero is a fairly well known DJ on the Californian cumbia underground, though this seems to be the Bay Area resident's debut single release. As with many cuts on Discos Mas, "Cumbia Chulita" offers a suitably 21st century take on the Colombian genre, with traditional elements - accordions, vocals, hand percussion - sitting side by side with hip-hop vocal samples, intergalactic synth lines, heavy sub bass and shuffling drum machine beats. His love of dub delays, wild synthesizer lines and spoken vocals comes to the fore on spaced-out B-side "Saludos Desde Oakland", which is pretty out there despite the presence of a relentless cumbia riddim.

Review: Though we don't get to see them perform much in the UK, Los Daddys have a reputation as one of the most impressive contemporary cumbia bands around. The high regard in which they're held is as much a reflection of their eccentric, 21st century approach to the traditional style as their energetic performances. This pleasingly modern approach is much in evidence on A-side "La Cumbia Para El Puebo", where live and electronic cumbia beats are joined by crunchy guitar licks and rapped Spanish vocals. In contrast, flipside "Las Cuerdas De Ayotzinapa" is an altogether more traditional affair - despite the odd, pitched down vocal yelps and Just Brothers surf guitar lines - with the action being focused around some killer drum work.

Review: Cumbia champs Philthy Dronez have been turning out their quirky and curious takes on the genre since 2005. For their next outing on San Fran's Disco Mas they link with Su Brigada De La Cumbia for a brace of bonkers beats. Opener "Vamos A La Playa" is characterised by a big and wonky accordion line that reminds us of global dance smash "Heater" by Samim from a few years ago. It's as silly as it is fun, while "Sabor De La Cumbia" is a much heavier and grittier affair. Shades of digital dub define the grooves while a rather haunting lead keeps you on edge as it trundles along.