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Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
Beautiful 7" vinyl release with full color sleeve featuring original artwork by Mexico City artist Alina Kiliwa!
Includes unlimited streaming of El Bigtoe & El Guambito: El Encuentro Vol.1
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
A collaboration decades in the making. An exploration of music both contemporary and of a future past. The culmination of antipodal hemispheric daydreams cast into the dark sky and coalesced in a dimly lit Central Texas studio anchored by the whirling hum of an AC window unit.
This is El Bigtoe y El Guámbito: a collaboration by El Bigtoe (Beto Martinez - Grupo Fantasma, Brownout, Money Chicha, The Los Sundowns, Caramelo Haze) and El Guámbito (Victor-Andres Cruz - Nemegata, Bulla En El Barrio, MAKU Soundsystem, Caramelo Haze). Initiated in late 2019 just before the world stood still, the pair began a weekly meeting at Martinez’s Lechehouse Music Studio as an exercise in songwriting and production experiments. The duo previously worked together when Martínez recorded Nemegata’s critically acclaimed Hycha Wy LP (Sonorama Discos) in 2019.
They sought a fresh sound through this effort and what emerged was an evolution of both of their sonic histories. A blend of analog and traditional instrumentation with electronic implements from synths to samplers, they explored rhythms from Colombia, engaging with but also moving into deeper palates than the ubiquitous Cumbia. The resulting material explores these machinations with a freedom and abandon, combining and reinterpreting solid influences and flighty whims alike.
The pair had released their debut single ‘Sabroso y Espooky (Cumbia Espooky) in 2021. KUTX called it, “a tastefully creepy cumbia-psych experience.”
Now, partnering with Chicago Label and DJ Collective, Sonorama, they bring to you the simultaneously grooving and frenetic 7” “Cumbia en La Calle” b/w “Mosquito”.
‘Cumbia en La Calle’ is a call to action, to let go of your fears and embrace the spirit in the street. A song ripe for the time and the season, El Guámbito explains its versatile impact and resonance, “Cumbia en la Calle is the noise that reflects the reality of our communities. From massive protests in the streets of Colombia, Perú, or Ecuador, people standing up against Cumbia prohibition in the streets of Mexico City, to forced displacement in the gentrified barrios of the US. One thing in common between all of this, that which gives everyone peace of mind, relief, hope, and strength is Cumbia. A form of profound therapy for communities, a sacred treasure for many. Cumbia travels with people, resilient, ever-present, and unapologetic; it becomes the soundtrack of a people that refuse to be silent.”
On the flip, 'El Mosquito' is a swirling, dive bomb of a ride. Much like its title namesake, it seems to buzz around haphazardly, compelling you to move to the ever pursuant rhythm of this trippy cumbia meets De Laurentiis Western epic before crash landing into a cumbia rebajada party on Mars.
credits
released May 12, 2023
A-Side: Cumbia en la Calle
Victor-Andres Cruz “El Guámbito”: Vocals, Synths, Caja Vallenata, Alegre, Guacharaca, Cencerros, Jam Blocks, Kick Drum.
Beto Martinez “El Bigtoe”: Electric Guitars, Baritone Guitar, Bass.
B-Side: Mosquito
Victor-Andres Cruz “El Guámbito”: Vocal Effects, Synths, Keys, Organs, Electric Guitar, Bass, Caja Vallenata, Alegre, Guacharaca, Tom, Cencerros, Jam Blocks, Cáscara.
Beto Martinez “El Bigtoe”: Vocal Effects, Electric Guitars, Baritone Guitar, Bass, Keys, Organs, Cencerro.
Recorded by Beto Martinez at Lechehouse Music, Buda, TX (2019-2021)
Mixed by Beto Martinez and Victor-Andres Cruz
Produced by Beto Martinez and Victor-Andres Cruz
Digital Masters by Marcel Andrie
Lacquers by Matt Earley
Original artwork by Alina Kiliwa -Mexico City
Addl art direction by Marlowe Baca
Sonorama is a Chicago-based DJ collective and record label fronted by Charly Garcia, Eddy Baca & Marlowe Baca. Created with
the objective of promoting world roots music through our obsessive love of vinyl music culture. More than just DJs, we collect, scavenge, and are ever in search of new sonic and rhythmic delights both new, old, sometimes forgotten, with the purpose to share our discoveries....more
supported by 9 fans who also own “El Bigtoe & El Guambito: El Encuentro Vol.1”
This album is not to be missed. Cumbia is the musical movement of today and Discos Resaca is leading the charge. West Coast forever. Don't wait! davidthefranklin
