Afro is the first international release by four Peruvian, Lima-born producers known as Novalima. For the last few years they have been on a mission to bring Afro-Peruvian music up to date in the same way that Nicomedes Santa Cruz and others did decades ago when the fragile existence of this music was fading. The result is magnificent: raw and acoustic yet at the same time with an electronic sound and sensibility. At other times it is dark but soulful, deep and haunting. It also features some killer dub bass lines with thumping cajon, quijada and conga percussion.
Afro was recorded mostly in Lima, Peru and features Afro-Peruvian legends such as Nicomedes Santa Cruz, Lucila Campos, Lucha Reyes and Zambo Cavero in addition to renowned Afro-Peruvian musicians Juan Medrano Cotito, Mangue Vaquez, Milagros Guerrero, Oscar Avil's Jr. and Pedro Urrutia.
Novalima have managed to capture the real soul of Afro-Peru with this album. You can hear it in 100-year-old slavery chants, Cotito's thumping cajon playing, Mangue's percussion ensembles, Mangue is the grandson of Porfirio Vasquez, considered the founder of the Afro-Peruvian movement, as well as in Milagros' emotive voice and Oscar Aviles Jr's sweet guitar playing.
The album includes additional production on all tracks by Nitin Sawhney and studio wizard Toni Economides. This is a modern work featuring modern arrangements combined with a traditional spirit.
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