This week in El Sonido we're going to flashback to a few show classics and check out some new things as well; from Mexico to Colombia, to around the globe.
First up, I'd like to spotlight one of my favorite rappers. Bocafloja has been making music since the mid-90s with the groups Lifestyle and Microphonk and started his solo career with 2002's Lengua Insurrecta. Since then he's released a run of great albums including Patologías del Invisible Incómodo, which made my top ten list of 2012. Originally from México, D. F. and now based in New York City he's not only an MC, but a spoken word artist, a writer, cultural ambassador and founder of the Quilomboarte collective. His socio-political and introspective lyrics flow cool over soul-rich beats. Check his most recent guest appearance with CAMBIOWASHERE's video "Day After Day," and watch the November 2013 KEXP performance below.
Next, we've got new music from Colombia's Systema Solar. Their socially-conscience blend of classic Colombia flavors and modern electronic styles is infectiously moving. Both the self-titled debut and La Revancha del Burro get constant rotation from me and I was really excited to see they've dropped a new track and video. It's a beautifully animated and hypnotic piece asking us to walk with dignity, style and flavor to build a new world for the common good.
On to Mexico with Los Blenders. Their video for Playa Jacó is one of my favorites of 2015. It comes from this year's great LP Chavos Bien and features over 600 dogs running free at a rescue reserve in Alajuela, Costa Rica. Lyrically it's more about hooking up and getting faded in paradise, and was inspired by the band's trip to the Costa Rican beach the track is named after. Get it.
And to top it off I'm going to offer up another mixtape. Music That Matters, Vol. 313 – El Sonido is an official KEXP podcast that I put together for our listeners in the fall 2012 to showcase the diversity of genres that we play on the show: electronica, rock, reggae, bachata and more.
Thanks for listening. See you next time.
paz.
Chilly hosts El Sonido every Monday night from 6-9 PM. Follow Chilly on Twitter and El Sonido on Facebook and Twitter.
For this installment of Immigrant Songs, I was blessed to have Los Angeles group Chicano Batman live in the KEXP studios. They’ve been getting a lot of attention around the country lately, both by doing some killer opening slots during tours with Jack White and Alabama Shakes and by being on the bi…
