Pan Caliente: La Chamba – Somos (Album Preview)

Cumbia is one of my all-time favorite genres of music. Be it traditional Cumbia Colombiana, Mexicana, Argentina, Marimbera, Norteña, or Chicha, Sonidera, Villera, Pegasso, Electrocumbia…[deep breath]… I love it all.

Bouncy bass lines. Accordions and keys with punch through melodies. And Güiros that can replace entire rhythm sections. THAT’S WHAT I’M talking about!

So when I caught wind – back in 2009 – that a local band from Los Angeles was bringing all of that to the local scene, I was all in! La Chamba Chicha was here to bring us Cumbia Chicha in all it’s glory.

Fast forward to present day, through a name change (they dropped the Chicha), some personnel shifts, and many van tours around the States, and you arrive at this preview for the release of their new album, SOMOS

Somos by La Chamba

SOMOS, is a hybrid of sorts that takes the “unique fusion of the psychedelic vintage tones of Peruvian cumbia, with a sound that represents our life experiences in the city of Los Angeles,” said Jason Zepeda of La Chamba’s forthcoming release.

“We tracked, mixed & mastered Somos on an 8-track tape machine, at our studio located in City Terrace, East Los Angeles. Hoping that folks not only enjoy our new tunes for their arrangement, rhythm and melody, but also for the true analog feel of the recording process.”

The album is slated for release on all digital platforms November 2nd (aka Día de los Muertos) but you can stream and preview it here on Pan Caliente for the next week, courtesy of the band.

If you end up digging the music, AND you will, you can catch La Chamba live at their Vinyl Release party on 12/14 at Club Bahia! CUUUUUUUUMMMMMBIAAAAA!

Photo c/o Jason Zepeda