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When Peyoti For President were brought to the attention of Manu Chao, he was so impressed that he got them to support his recent sell-out tour. And if you’re into Chao, Gogol Bordello and Rachid Taha, welcome the new “champions of international sound and universal message”.

Formed in South London by Anglo-Italian singer songwriter Pietro DiMascio and Ulisses Bezerra (son of samba-rapper Bezzera da Silva) they now perform live as a band of 5-8 players who are drawn form all-corners of the world.

The voice of an angry young frontman Pieto is in the Joe Strummer political mould with a love of world(wide) music. The album title is taken from a bit of 60’s culture, Bob Dylan and Joan Baez famously being pictured infront of a sign ‘Protest - Rising Tide Of Conformity’. And any connection between last year’s Black Eyed Peas ‘reworked’ Sergio Mendes’ classic ‘Mas Que Nada’ and Peyoti For President’s ‘We The People’ couldn’t be more profound; “we’re coming to get ya cause your number is up, and we don’t give a damn and don’t give a fuck”.

Other highlights are the reggae-rock ‘No Me Siento Malo’ and the album ends on a Carlos Niño’s “pyschadelic cosmic love from California” trip of a track called ‘Survival Of The Fittest’ that’s in the CSNY/Buffalo Springfield family area and is my current favourite of the set.

One’s to sway and sing-a-long to are ‘Bad Politician’, ‘Rhapsody Of A 100 Lies’, ‘Campaign Spokesman’ and ‘Yo No Quiero Trabajar’ which finds an album of a heady mix of many styles which is provided by a cast of over 20 musicians from Brazil, Egypt, Syria, India, Jamaica, Australia, Italy, Spain, Ireland and the UK, such as Sami Bishai (violinist who has played with Yasmin Levy), Louai Alhenawi (ney and darbucka who has played with Natasha Atlas), Pandit Dinesh (Indian congas and percussion who has played with Ravi Shankar), “not forgetting the unwitting contributions of George W. Bush” on ‘A People’s Lament’ (not quite Hugo Chavez’ contribution on Todo Cambia but hey!).

Peyoti For President are already a festival favourites at Rob da Bank’s Bestival and Glade and I’d imagine the best way to see these lot is live and your first chance is the album launch party at the famous Dingwalls in Camden Town next Sunday (10th May).

The CD comes with a booklet with all the lyrics and inside artwork inspired by Alexander Rodchenko (al la Franz Ferdinand’s You Could Have It So Much Better album cover), it’s time to engage with democracy and vote for Peyoti - the only vote that counts.

Peyoti For President live (Album Launch Party) @ Dingwalls, Sunday 10th May
Dingwalls, Camden Middle Yard, Camden Lock NW1 8AB £8 adv £10 door 7:00pm - late / www.wegotickets.com

Reviewed: Peyoti For President - Rising Tide Of Conformity (Sordid Soup Records) Cat. No. SSOUP03A Release date: 4th May 2009
Tracklisting:
1. Take A Leap (3:50)
2. Bad Politician (3:23)
3. We The People (5:04)
4. Wake Up Rise Up (1:53)
5. No Me Siento Malo (3:40)
6. Credit To The Nation (0:43)
7. Campaign Spokesman (3:07)
8. Drifting (4:02)
9. A People’s Lament (1:10)
10. Rhapsody Of 1000 Lies (4:33)
11. Yo No Quiero Trabajar (3:48)
12. Survival Of The Fittest (4:39)
13. Peyoti! Peyoti! (2:28)

Links:
www.peyoti.com
www.myspace.com/peyotiforpresident
“New era conquistadors of political punk” - Time Out
“Not so much a pop group - more an attitude, more a way of life… more a way of thinking” - Tom Robinson, BBC 6 Music www.bbc.co.uk/6music
“Incendiary music - they cannot and surely will not be ignored” - Songlines
La Linea -Tuesday 28 April 7.30pm Spanish Bombs: Tropical Tribute to the Clash World Premiere featuring members of Café Tacuba, Plastilina Mosh, King Chango, Sergent Garcia, Amparanoia, Alejandro Escovedo and more tba. Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS Tel: 0844 848 8434
http://www.last.fm/group/Protest+against+the+rising+tide+of+conformity
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Rodchenko