Macondo Revisitado: The Roots of Subtropical Music Uruguay 1975-1979

Uruguay, along with Chile and Argentina, is prone to identity crises when it comes to defining its musical legacy. It doesn't resemble neighbouring Brazil at all, has no Andes on which to blow a pipe, and while there's a unifying Latin swing shared across the continent, Uruguayans are also tango fans, farmers and far fewer and more different from everyone else. This vivacious little sampler's sub-heading refers to ‘subtropical’ music, though as far as I am aware, ‘subtropical’ wasn't used as a generic term until recently, by Alaskan-born, Argentina-based pop-rock singer Kevin Johansen. Still, what we get here are 21 tracks released by Uruguay's Macondo label some 40 years ago in a bid to tap the growing trend for tropical rhythms such as cumbia, merengue and assorted Cuban sounds. River Plate outfits like Grupo Electrónico Keguay, Conjunto Casino and Grupo Maracaibo bring a shimmering Afro-Uruguayan flavour to the clavé beat. There's often the slightest hint of ironic psychedelia, and a sort of deferred 60s mood, though with ska and a tango-tinged introspection surfacing here and there. Unashamedly derivative in the main, it's undeniably danceable and fun.