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It’s not that long since the Soundway compilations Nigeria Special: Volume 2 - The Modern Highlife, Afro Sounds and Nigerian Blues of 1970-6 and Panamá! 3 - Calypso Panameño, Guajira Jazz & Cúmbia Típica on the Isthmus 1960-75 were astounding our office hi-fi and then, low and behold, they’re at it again with more unheard of goodness from Colombia.

And by comparison with Los Lobos (new album Tin Can Trust coming out soon), Soundway are the true heavyweighs on the Champeta, Criolla and Afro Roots.

As any student of Colombian music will tell you, in the 1970 and 80s, the hot sound systems of Barranquilla and Cartegena were not into disco but were looking to their African roots and mixing it up with Caribbean Creole as well as Colombian hits for the sounds of the day; this was what became known as “Champeta”.

Picking up on the lead of the sound systems, local musicians caught the vibe and immersed these influences into their music so you get a bit of everything from traditional African folk songs to Highlife and Afrobeat on these 21 tracks.

In truth, I’m a bit slow on getting this review out as I’ve spent too long getting to grips with the music which has got to be a good sign (and indeed it is). The opener ‘Esclavo Moderno’ is typical as its tropical voodoo beats with Dick Dale and is ‘Burumburumbum’ Hawaiian jazz limbo boogie? ‘Tungalala’ has an echo from Soweto and ‘Naga Pedale’ is straight from Haiti; or is it the other way around?

And in contrast (or not as the case might be) ‘Dejala Corre’ gets into a bit of a Brazilian groove and ‘Tetero’ is some jazzi-bongo-pan-pipe-funk and for some space-jazz funkin’ al a Colombia, La Tromba give it some of ‘Calaba Calabao’.

The whole CD is brilliant and, whilst there is a Sean Connery 007 period which gets caputured by Colombian tribesmen cool about all this, Wganda Kenya’s ‘Pim Pom’ is pure Afro-mod genius of the Fela kind. And Fela turns up metaphorically again as Lisandro Meza do a cover of ‘Shakara’ and he’s not far from the Rabel Y Su Grupo’s ‘Manaye’.

Whilst in Africa/the cotton fields/slave ships/township choirs get down with Son Palenque and Grupo Palma Africana.

Each time I listen to this I’m getting new favourites and if Aberlado Carbono is still alive, he’s got to reform his Conjunto’s; it’s the Gypsy Kings on speed with blood transfusions from the crypt - the wind cries quiero a mi gente (apparently this avant-garde pioneer can still be heard playing in Anibal Velasquez Orchestra).

So who do we thank for doing all the diggin’ to find these lost gems from the other side of the world? (Depending on where you’re reading this.) Once again Miles Cleret (Soundway head honcho) has gone to the man that knows his stuff and you can’t get much more of an expert that Bogota’s Lucas Silva, who owns Palenque Records.

The whole album is totally addictive good time dance groove that’s ideal for a DJ with a box of 7”s and an audience that want to party (that’s just as good now as it was then) and it’s that man Wganda Kenya (originally signed to another of Colombia’s major label’s Disco Fuentes - check out the equally fantastic Soundway comp Colombia! The Golden Years of Discos Fuentes that came out a little while ago) that ends the CD with a track called ‘Yoro’ that’s drenched in Charlie Gillett vibe it almost brings a tear to eye.

The extensive sleeve notes get into the sound system culture of the ghettos that were as big as and as dedicated as any from Jamaica to Wigan Pier as they kept their exclusives under wraps and generally competing to best the best.

If you even wondered why Brighton exile Will Holland (Quantic) went off to live and record in Colombia, Palenque Palenque: Champeta, Criolla & Afro Roots in Columbia 1975-91 will convince us why (whilst on the subject Quantic’s new album Dog With A Rope is out now).

The trouble is this album is so good; you just can’t fault it or moving to it. If you live in a ghetto or not, this will take your mind to another place. And whilst the 90s brought in the Colombian equivalent of Post-Punk, Dancehall, Nu-jazz (or whatever comes next in the ever evolving new sounds of the world), this CD represents truly a “magical era” - Shacalao for Columbia - we love you Soundway!

And if you’re still not convinced, as Jungle Drums say, “Can Soundway do no wrong?” The answer is obvious and with another compilation coming out soon (The World Ends), I can’t wait.

Reviewed: Various Artists - Palenque Palenque: Champeta, Criolla & Afro Roots in Colombia 1975-91 (Soundway) Cat. No: SNDWCD022 Release date: June 2010
Tracklisting:
1 Manuel Alvaraz Y Sus Dangers - Esclavo Moderno (2:53)
2 Casimbas Negras - Burumburumbum (3:32)
3 Aberlado Carbono Y Su Conjunto - Palenque (3:53)
4 Son Palenque - Tungalala (El Sapo) (3:30)
5 Cumbia Sigo XX - Naga Pedale (3:26)
6 Wganda Kenya - Pim Pom (4:15)
7 Banda Los Hijos De La Niña Luz - Dejala Corre (3:27)
8 Pedro Beltran - Puyalo Ahi (3:00)
9 Grupo Palma Africana - Tetero (3:08)
10 Aberlado Carbono Y Su Conjunto - Quiero A Mi Gente (3:45)
11 Lisandro Meza - Shacalao (3:37)
12 Son Palenque - Palenque Palenque (4:07)
13 Aberlado Carbano - La Negra Kulende (3:29)
14 La Tromba - Calaba Calabao (3:48)
15 Los Soneros De Gamero - Katunga (3:24)
16 Rabel Y Su Grupo - Manaye (3:46)
17 La Nelda Piña - El Sucusu (3:13)
18 Wganda Kenya - El Lobo (3:00)
19 Son Palenque - Dame Un Trago (4:25)
20 Grupo Palma Africana - La Botellita (4:09)
21 Wganda Kenya - Yoro (3:44)

Links:
www.soundwayrecords.com Also recommended on Soundway, Ghana Special: Modern Highlife, Afro-Sounds and Ghanaian Blues 1968-81, and Colombia! -The Golden Age Of Discos Fuentes - The Powerhouse of Colombian Music 1960-76
www.myspace.com/djhugomendez
Jungle Drums July 2010 p24 Russ Jones jungledrumsonline.com