Words by Justin Turford
Disco really did conquer the world just as the thump of house music would do a decade or so later. Its ability to shapeshift and take on the unique peculiarities of wherever it landed is exemplified vividly on this new Luis Alvarado curated collection that focuses on the Peruvian discotheque dancefloors of the late 70s to the late 80s.
From melancholic Gallic flavoured oddities like ‘Amazonas’ by Grupo Cremolada (one of my favourites) to the Jellybean era Madonna meets Miami Sound Machine synth-ageddon of Jaque Mate’s ‘Abrigame’, the seismic swerve from full orchestral productions to the jarring electronic future is palpable during the course of this new compilation from the always interesting Buh Records.
Jaque Mate
Never before explored or compiled in this overarching fashion, label head Alvarado offers us a view into a Peruvian phenomenon that, I for one, wasn’t aware of. Even the excellent experimental musician and soundtrack wizard Luis David Aguilar gets involved leading Santodomingo Kid through a frankly bonkers tune from 1978 - ‘Caminito’ - that marries Patrick Adams synths with jazz-funk chords and killer brass. Shame it’s not a clean recording but we can hear its class. ‘Patinando’ by Rollets harnesses that late NYC sophisto-cheese with arpeggiated synths and big pop hooks.
Los Roller’s de Tarapoto
The wild space-disco of Grupo Swing’s ‘Bosque Solitario’ from 1982 is another standout for me with its overuse of electronic toms (pow! pow!), multiple and brilliant guitar parts and edgy chord progressions.
The further we travel into the 80s, the more pop it becomes with the insistently catchy German-sounding cheeseball ‘Sin Ti’ by Grupo San Francisco or the youngest song on the comp, 1989’s ‘Jungla de Cemento’ by Annie (looking very like a Latino Madonna but with a sound more reminiscent of a Jam & Lewis production).
Annie
The collection is an electrifying ride illustrated best by the brilliant synth led boogie meets salsa monster ‘Amo a Susana’ by Grupo América, which I can easily imagine burning down many a discerning contemporary dancefloor and which I will strive to do!
High energy nuggets of unusual yet worthy Peruvian disco and poppier songs that add vibrant new colours to the most luminous of genres. 8.5/10
BUY HERE! https://buhrecords.bandcamp.com/album/viva-el-s-bado-hits-de-disco-pop-peruano-1978-1989