By José Gandue @Gandour
Much of the new fusion sound developed in Colombia over the last 20 years is owed to an Englishman: Richard Blair. This man, originally from Birmingham, arrived in Colombia after working with the Real World record label, owned by Peter Gabriel. From that time, we remember his collaborations with Carlos Vives, Totó La Momposina, and a few other rockers who undoubtedly wanted to sound as British as possible in their songs. But Blair and his project... Sidestepper It was the merger, And it all began with their blend of salsa and drum & bass in their work Southern Star y Logo. Then he started getting into cumbia and caught the attention of music commentators and audiences with More Grip, 3 AM: In Beats We Trust, Continental (perhaps the most commercial of his discography) and Buena Vibra Sound System. His work, alongside some very prominent local musicians, the increasingly deep integration with the Colombian Caribbean sound. His recordings and mixing ideas fed the vast majority of the country's most prominent contemporary artists, and surely the misrepresentation of his musical actions produced ideas as horrible as those that produced that infamous movement called "Tropipop". But that's not Blair's fault, not by a long shot.
Given all this background, the sonic risk taken by Sidestepper, which he announces to us with Supernatural Soul, the preview of his new album, Supernatural Love. As we see in the video, this track was recorded live, with few but effective electronic elements and rather The strength of the theme lies in a spirit that seems taken from the Soul of the sixties. The guitar sounds like it was lifted from old Soca compositions, and the Caribbean percussion faithfully accompanies a vocal style that radiates melancholy throughout the song. The fusion, on this occasion, became more mature, less explosive, less intense. and perhaps more intimate in its results. While the musical fusion proposals that are constantly being released on the market aim to blow up the dance floor, Sidestepper can be seen resting on the side of the beach watching the waves bend.
Perhaps this sonic transition has reopened the doors for Blair and his band at Real World, bringing them back into the fold of Peter Gabriel's empire. Sidestepper's new album, from what we can gather so far, frees itself from the absurd pressures of the charts and seeks the more discerning and open-minded listener. Hopefully that will bring them the best results.