By José Gandue @Gandour
The epicenter is Santa Marta, a tourist city in the Colombian Caribbean. The two main characters are foreigners. The first is a Bogota native eager to live by the sea. The other, a renowned percussionist, arrives from the state of Zulia, Venezuela, and, according to what is said, is an important representative of the Chimbánguele culture. As soon as the first, named Carlos Rosales, sees Carlos Machado, the other main character in this story, playing at a local event, he proposes they join forces and launch a project called Surfer Gorilla.
What does this duo sound like? To better understand this happy mix, we recommend bringing along a copy of the famous blender where we always suggest combining, on a laboratory level, several of the tastiest elements of musical cuisine. Here you'll find funk, cumbia, hip hop, champeta, drum & bass, dubstep and other such healthy stuff. Here there's time for experimentation, sampling, surprising mixes, and the desire to break the mold. The listener not only dances but, from time to time, stops and realizes the effort involved in exploring paths beyond the obvious. It bears fruit because it generates unexpected twists fueled by good taste.
This year Surfer Gorilla has released two albums. From the first one, an EP called Shalikua Papikua, We already talked about this a few months ago. We made a description similar to the one presented at the beginning of this note. The spirit of experimentation and combining unusual elements continues to work., but in his second publication, We did somersaults in the air!, The speech became more political. There is a growing outcry against the corruption of the powerful, a demand for equality for all people, open borders, and a rejection of institutional violence. These claims increase in volume when interspersed with news samples and external files, resonant pieces that invite reflection amidst enjoyment, to not deny reality even when we are in the euphoria of the party.
We did somersaults in the air! It's lovely because you can see that the relationship between the members of Surfer Gorilla has progressed, There is more confidence in the game of inquiry, in the process of exploration. They now feel more at ease, know themselves better, and understand their potential. They now have the confidence to seek broader support., to be heard anywhere on the planet. Their music and their message deserve to be heard wherever you, dear reader, are reading this review. Enjoy it and don't miss anything they have to say.
