Active from 2005 | Genre Alternative/Indie | |
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Members Olivier Conan, Joshua Camp, Neil Ochoa, Karina Colis, Nicholas Cudahy, Vincent Douglas Albums ¡Sonido Amazonico!, Canibalismo, Cuatro Tigres Record labels Crammed Discs, Barbès Records Similar Juaneco Y Su Combo, Los Mirlos, Ondatrópica, Los Wembler's de Iquitos, Sam Mangwana Profiles | ||
Chicha libre danza del millonario
Chicha Libre is a Brooklyn-based six-member band founded by Olivier Conan. Its name is a reference to Chicha, which is the name of a corn-based liquor that has been produced in South America since the time of the Incas. It is also the name of a Peruvian musical genre (also known as Peruvian cumbia) on which the band's music is based.
Contents
- Chicha libre danza del millonario
- Chicha libre la plata live on soundcheck
- History
- Style
- Reception
- Songs
- References
Chicha libre la plata live on soundcheck
History
Conan was first introduced to Chicha music on a trip to Peru in 2005. Their debut album, ¡Sonido Amazonico!, was released in 2008 on Barbes Records, a label which Conan runs from his home in Brooklyn. They released their second album, Canibalismo, in 2012. They also released an EP, Cuatro Tigres, in 2013, both digitally and on vinyl.
Style
The band's music is based on chicha (also known as Peruvian cumbia), a fusion of rock and roll and cumbia produced by the native population of the Peruvian Andes and Amazon. This music was most popular in the 1960s and 70s in Northern Peru. Conan has described his band's music as "free-form Chicha" and has said they take many liberties with Chicha music.
Reception
Sonido Amazonico received a favorable review from Brendon Griffin. Writing in PopMatters, Griffin said that "...like the best music of any genre it leaves you wondering about the mystery of it all" and gave the album a rating of 9 out of 10. This album was also reviewed by Jon Lusk, who wrote on the BBC's website that the album's music was "too self-conscious and contrived to match the fevered originals." Robert Christgau awarded Cuatro Tigres an A- and wrote that the band "acknowledge[s] their true roots" on the EP.
Songs
Sonido Amazónico¡Sonido Amazonico! · 2008
Popcorn Andino¡Sonido Amazonico! · 2008
Tres Pasajeros¡Sonido Amazonico! · 2008