Magnetismo Animal

Bogotá’s indie-tropical darlings La Sonora Mazurén continue their psychedelic musical adventures on their second album Magnetismo Animal. With a line-up that includes members of Romperayo and La Perla, the Colombian outfit employ the sounds of champeta, cumbia, guaracha and other Afro-Andean genres to create an irresistible record that could start a party at a funeral. With a punchy DJ-friendly production, the past and the future are equally present: vintage synthesizers, buzzing electric guitars, vallenato accordion and polyrhythmic percussion instruments all played with great flair. The arrangements are tight as a mosquito’s tweeter. The propulsive gaita-led ‘Gaitana’ is Peruvian huayno with 21st-century production. ‘Cavernicolas’ could be Khruangbin remixed by Eblis Álvarez – Giovanna Mogollón and Diana Sanmiguel’s vocals add an icy cool to this potential crossover hit. The trippy circus pipe organ of ‘Bomba de Prioste’ and the cumbia ‘Parrandiando’ offer a calmer but still compelling sonic experience.