A band from Cartagena that blends traditional cumbia and bullerengue with contemporary sounds.
For a good sense of their range, try 'El Gran Manuel' and 'Bolero de Remedios' back to back. They show the different corners of that hybrid style they've been working on since 2003.
They're one of those groups that makes you hear familiar rhythms differently. Songs like '¡Viva La Revolución!' show how they can take a traditional foundation and layer it with keyboards and electronic touches without losing the percussion drive. Their 2015 legal dispute over unauthorized commercial use of their music also speaks to the complicated relationship between traditional music and modern business.
They formed in Cartagena in 2003 with a lineup anchored by Juan Carlos Puello's vocals. Their self-titled debut came out in 2004, followed by albums like 'La Cumbia Sampuesana' in 2008 and 'El Callegüero' in 2012. The band has played international festivals where their percussion-heavy arrangements get noticed.
Keep it compact: a lyric you come back to, a live memory, or the part of the catalog you would point someone toward first.
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