Los Chinches – ‘Fongo’ (MovimientosRecords)
CD/DL
1 April 2013
Formed in
2009, Los Chinches have a truely eclectic line-up from England, France, Peru
and Columbia. Their sound is a unique
mix of Cumbia (Columbian music popular in Hispanic America) and Chicha (a style
of Cumbia that includes surf rock), together with huge splatterings of London
Ska. It’s marvellous.
According
to PR information, rhythm and lead guitarist Gareth Finnegan first came across
Chicha when he was lost in the Peruvian Amazon (why he was there in the first
place I have no idea). After his return
to London (presumably after being ‘found’) Los Chinches was formed and their
foray across the capitals club, folk and rock ‘n’ roll venues has cemented
their reputation as a thoroughly entertaining live act also seen at
Glastonbury, Bestival and WOMAD.
‘Romantica
Amazonica’ opens the album with theatrical grandness before settling into a ska
groove with added percussion and a lovely traditional keyboard. The vocals are Columbian, but, despite this
the hook is instant and memorable and
the track zips along with prowess. There’s a hint of the surf guitar (or is it a
Hank Marvin tribute?!) that comes later
in the album and I defy anyone not to
feel good or at least tap their feet.
The Ska
grooves conintues with an almost oriental sounding guitar on single ‘Senorita,
Can You Tell?’ This time with English
vocals and a good old barrel of fun. The
can almost imagine the band fooling around in the snow (!?) , or, maybe
not. Again, it’s as catchy as Chicken
Pox at a pre-school nursery.
The jungle
bird impersonation at the beginning of Chicha Love is just pure bonkers. I love it.
There are two great percussion solos with more jungle noises and it’s
fun, fun, fun. The promise of echoes of
The Shadows’ front man comes in the shape of ‘El Longing’. The only slightly offputting thing in this
track, and, throughout the album is the use of a pre-programmed cymbol sound. It’s strange that with such great percussion,
Los Chinches have to resort to a pre-programmed sound, which, I don’t have a
problem with per se, it’s just that it is far too tinny and often doesn’t quite
fit.
The title
track comes from the name of “a mysterious deity, a visionary and a clown with
a taste for jungle liquor and Amazonian beauties”. Who are we to argue? ‘Be Still My Beating Corazon’ is more of the
same, great melody, great hook, great song.
It’s
difficult to accept that the album is little over thirty-one minutes long over
eleven tracks, but, it’s enthralling and very entertaining. Imagine the pop
sensibilities of an Absolutely era Madness, particularly ‘Return Of The Los
Palmas 7’ and you probably won’t be far away.
Ironically, Ceviche (Con Choclo)’ ends with the sound of clinking
crockery in a cafe.
There’s
more madcapness with the closing ‘Gracias’, surf guitar, frantic percussion and
more repeats of the song title than you can shake a latin stick at. Thank you indeed.
8/10
Visit the Los Chinches website here.
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