Nuevos Rios

Description

The latest creation from the vibrant, mixed-culture Colombian music scene, Nuevos Ríos offers a striking immersion into the Afro-descendant traditions of the Colombian Pacific, enhanced by amplified music. The result is breathtaking: an odyssey that transcends borders and invites the listener to discover a new river with winding meanders. In this music, one feels the tropical heat, the visceral force of musical traditions, and the energy of European dancefloors in a unique cocktail: instantly addictive, sometimes introspective, and always irresistibly danceable. Born on the banks of the Timbiquí River, the project took shape through the encounter between Canalón de Timbiquí – the group founded by maestra Nidia Góngora, whose captivating and immediately recognizable voice has illuminated projects such as Quantic, Ondatrópica, and The Bongo Hop – and Reco Reco, passionate explorers of hypnotic music, especially from South America. Through a series of improvisations on the ground floor of Nidia's house, the hybridization of their music became evident, born from a shared desire to reveal to attentive listeners the power of this human and musical encounter. This first chapter, released by ZZK Records, a label renowned for unearthing South American gems (Son Rompe Pera, Nicola Cruz, La Yegros…), is carried by the unique songwriting and timbre of Nidia Góngora. Throughout the tracks, each element of the ensemble finds its rightful place: the power of Colombian Pacific percussion and the poetry of the chonta marimba envelop us around a tasty guitar riff with West African accents; the strength of the voices is magnified by layered electronic textures; while the drums and bass intertwine to form a dual engine for the eponymous vessel, Nuevos Ríos. The lyrics tell of daily life always close to nature, around a river that is both a vital artery and a route for exchange, without concealing the harsh realities of a region marked by Colombia's internal conflicts. And perhaps this music is already a first answer to some of these wounds, in the form of a collective celebration ritual. This eponymous debut album offers a unique perspective on the Afro-descendant heritage of the Colombian Pacific, enriched by the power of electronic and amplified music. One feels the warmth of the tropics, the strength of percussive and vocal traditions, and the energy of European dancefloors, for an irresistibly hypnotic and irresistibly catchy result.