Todo el Mundo

Texas-based Colombian musician and lately also stand-up comedian Kiko Villamizar has released his new album Todo el Mundo following the single of the same name, together with an award-winning music video. The vast majority of the 13 tracks are cumbia dance songs, infused with what Villamizar calls ‘tropical futurism’; Colombian percussion and the occasional airy flute solo.

As someone who has endured hours of cumbia rattling out of tinny speakers on long-distance buses through the Andes, cumbia is Marmite music to this reviewer’s ears. After one more blast of the echoey guitar and plaintive vocals, I’m reaching for the fast-forward button. The eponymous single is probably the pick of the cumbia tracks; with pleasant pan-pipes woven into the mix and lending some variety to the repetitive rhythm. ‘Poncho’ is also an interesting change of pace, with its dark, bluesy mood and vocals reminiscent of Tom Waits baring his soul. And the final track, ‘Lelolai’ is definitely the standout song, with its nicely syncopated vocal harmonies ending on an upbeat note. Perhaps inspired by his jazz studies in Miami, Villamizar shows us here that he does have some alternative styles in his musical skill set. So, this is a worthwhile listen then, even if only for the two breakaway tracks.