Original Sound of Cumbia / Various Audio CD – CD, December 6, 2011

Raw, primal sounds from a well spring of numerous latin american sub genres. Accurately likened to a good cross section of delta blues, as so much of north american forms can trace their roots to that well spring. Delta blues was never so danceable, though. Will Holland has really immersed himself in this, and he should be commended for the results, an outstanding collection. You get the feeling of real pedigree with these tracks, like this is the genuine article. Liner notes give a nice synopsis of the development of this music but a track by track commentary is missed. The Anibal Velasquez collection on Analog Africa is another excellent compilation of one of the key participants featured here, his two tracks carefully chosen to avoid duplicating any of the tracks on that compilation. A feast of Colombian delights.

EXCELLENT TEN STARS! THIS IS AN AUTHENTIC JEWEL FOR COLLECTORS OF FOLKLATIN MUSIC; THIS IS A TWO CD SET THAT CONTAINS 28 AND 27 TRACKS RESPECTIVELYOF COLOMBIAN CUMBIAS;THE FIRST CD IS FROM EARLIER TIMES IN THE FIFTIES WHILE THE SECONDIS FROM THE SIXTIES AND SEVENTIES.THESE CUMBIAS ARE MOSTLY UNKNOWN AND THAT IS EXACTLY THE VALUE OF THESE TWO CDSBECAUSE IT RESCUES OUR TRADITIONAL LATIN AMERICAN MUSIC IN THIS ERA OF DUMBNESSAND IDIOTIC POP MUSIC PRODUCED MY THE MASS MARKET GLOBALIZATION.I ALSO ENJOYED THE BOOKLET IT IS VERY INFORMATIVE.

Love this collection. This is seriously one of the best compilation sets I've ever bought. Of course I liked cumbia going into this (but hadn't heard much of it). I wish this music would catch on more in the US. I like the first side more (the second side is a bit more jazzy). I'm giving this 4 instead of 5 stars because I did not get the booklet/liner notes (44 page booklet promised by the sticker on the shrinkwrap of the cd).

Great liner notes, packaging, and fun, raw, accordion and percussion driven cumbia.The real deal. Get it. I think the modern cumbia stuff gives the genre a bad name.This is the genuine article. Don't be surprised if you start hearing a lot more accordion in the next few years. What buena vista social club was to son and salsa, this represents the golden age of cumbia.

This is my new favorite CD. This music is just enchanting ...It just grows and grows on me. A very well chosen selection of vintage cumbia.

Love it

Fantastic!!!

This one was basically a no-brainer of a purchase; a 2-CD set of vintage Cumbia music reissued by the consistently dependable Soundway label. It had to be good, right? Well, good would be an understatement; this is a fabulous collection of music!If you have heard those fun, intoxicating sounds of Colombian "cumbia" music before, you know you are in for a listening treat. And your feet will certainly want in the action too; most listeners will find it nearly impossible to stay seated while listening to these energetic compositions. This is incredibly addictive, and very danceable, music.The CD comes with a very nice 40-page booklet, packed with informative liner notes about these songs, plus some cool vintage photos and record sleeve reproductions. One of the essays, by Will Holland, succinctly sums up the vibe within: "Music at its best is something you can feel, like holding a hand-crafted artwork in the palms and marveling at its intricacy and quality. Cumbia, amongst many South American musical forms, has managed to preserve its charm, vigor and earnest sentiment in a country where a violent past and difficult reputation have been hard to overcome."What's not hard to overcome is falling under the spell of this radiant music. Listen and smile ... and a dance a little too!

Verantwortlich für diese zweiteilige Compilation ist der britische Musiker Will "Quantic" Holland, der bereits seit einigen Jahren in Kolumbien lebt. Dort hat er in mühseliger Arbeit zahllose alte Cumbia-Singles zusammengetragen, aus denen er schließlich diese beiden ausgezeichneten Sampler für Soundways zusammengestellt hat.Die Aufnahmen stammen alle aus dem "Goldenen Zeitalter" des Cumbia also den 50er - 70er Jahren, bevor Synthesizers und Keyboards die klassische Besetzung verdrängten und die Cumbia zu einer totproduzierten Popsauce degradierten. Quantic präsentiert auf dem Sampler hochkarätige Bigbands aus dem Curro-Fuentes-Umfeld neben archaisch anmutenden Ensembles und den klassischen, kleinen Cumbiabands mit Akkordeon, Trommeln und Guacharacas. Stilistisch werden alle Spielarten von Gaita bis Porro abgedeckt. Abwechslungsreich, mitreißend, urtümlich, voller Power und einfach: wow!

(auch plus ohne Tapeten) ... - ././.-... ; -- ... ... ... nein, nein, - das kommt so nicht aus Kuba! ... ... - ... ... ....... ...... .(.[ein wenig bedauerlich nur: der verzicht auf die orchestralere darbietungsweise; ~>. l.bermudez; p.galan, ...].). ..........

Absolutely mesmerising throughout these particular decades!!

Compilation indispensable pour les afficionados de la Cumbia !! Que du bonheur et un bel apercu de la riche et diversifié scene Sud-Américaine

Hayyy que tal ! Authentique musique colombienne que tout le monde devrait avoir dans son salon. Tres belle compilation du selecta hollandais