Album: Dengue Dengue Dengue, La Alianza Profana, Chusma Records

Peru’s Felipe Salmon and Rafael Pereira are described as an audiovisual duo, which is perhaps why this audio-only CD is somewhat problematic.

Their beats are rather cold and clinical given that the genre they pinch samples from is joyously swinging cumbia. And while one can imagine the discombobulating light show and (no doubt) surreal imagery they dazzle the club crowds with, in isolation these lumbering grooves simply don’t hack it.