Yo Amanecí

Since his death in 2000, the reputation of Andrés Landero has continued to grow, both in Colombia and around the world. With his accordion and evocative voice, Landero wrote simple cumbias about the San Jacinto countryside where he grew up, about loves lost and gained, and about a hard day's graft in the fields. Even when he achieved some success in Mexico in the 70s and 80s, Landero remained modest, making music and writing lyrics that were true to his roots. It's easy to see why Joe Strummer was such a fan.

Yo Amanecí is the first compilation of Landero's music to be released internationally and it's well worth the wait as, aside from bona fide classics like ‘La Pava Congona’ and ‘Cumbia en la India’, there are lesser-known gems like the intoxicating ‘Mi Machete’, telling poetically the story of how the weather can change the fate of his crops. Though the music here, originally released between 1966 and 1982, barely changes in feel or instrumentation, it stands up as an important body of work, baring Landero's soul and his unique accordion-led rural cumbia.