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'Peru Maravilloso' Album Features Country's Musical Legends Of The '60s, '70s

'Peru Maravilloso' Album Features Country's Musical Legends
VOXXI

The 1960s were a pivotal era not only for young Americans in the U.S. but also for their counterparts in Peru. As the country’s political stability slowly fell to pieces, peaking with the ouster of then-president Fernando Belaúnde Terry by General Juan Velasco Alvarado’s military forces in 1968, the country’s music scene also underwent a pivotal shift from classic, traditional sounds to the new sounds of tropical and psychedelic music.

“Peru Maravilloso” collects a number of these songs from a variety of influential artists of that era in one neat compilation.

“Peru Maravilloso” features 15 marvelous tracks of cumbia, tropical, rock, and traditional sounds from many legendary and influential performers of the ’60s and ’70s chosen specifically by Duncan Ballantyne, Martin Morales and Andres Tapia (Resychled Records). The trio had one mission in mind when choosing the songs for the record:

“rooting and unearthing tracks that take the listener by surprise whilst avoiding the more mainstream sounds of cumbia and chicha prevalent at the time.”

Tiger’s Milk Records unleashes ‘Peru Maravilloso’

The album is the first from the UK label Tiger’s Milk founded by Morales. Morales, born in Peru to a British father and a Peruvian mother, turned his back on a lucrative career with iTunes Pan Europe and Disney Music in order to follow his lifelong dream: cooking Peruvian cuisine.

Morales founded Ceviche in 2010 and the restaurant has become one of the most popular in London’s SoHo district. Later, he founded Tiger’s Milk as an extension of Ceviche with the aid of Ballantyne, former label manager at Soundway Records, Far Out (Brazil), and Naïve (UK).

Listeners won’t find the infamous “Cariñito” by Los Hijos Del Sol or any variation of “El Condor Pasa” on this collection. What they will find are tracks such as “La Cumbia Del Pacurro” by Juaneco Y Su Combo with a cumbia-backed guitar line that is the definition of chicha (Peruvian cumbia) music and should be required listening for every music lover.

Listeners will also get to enjoy the big band sound of Zulu on “Sueño De Amor,” an instrumental chicha version of The Beatles’ “I Feel Fine” by Los Ecos (“Me Siento Felíz”), the classic Peruvian folk song “Toro Mata” re-envisioned as a instrumental Jazz number by artist Lucia De La Cruz, and much more. Also, every track has been remastered from its original recording, all of which have been unreleased in any other format since their original pressings.

Morales, Ballantyne, and Tapia have succeeded far more than they may have possibly hoped for as they have released one of the best compilations ever on record. The album is a historical treasure and a joy to listen and dance to.

“Peru Maravilloso” is available now via Tiger’s Milk Records.

Originally published on VOXXI as ‘Peru Maravilloso’ unearths influential Peruvian music of 1960s, 1970s

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Before You Go

9 Awesome Things About Peru
A Gastronomic Marvel(01 of09)
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If there’s one thing that sets Peru apart is it’s food -- a fusion of Spanish, African, Chinese, Japanese -- that has made the South American country a gastronomic haven for tourists and chefs. It is the birthplace of the internationally renowned seafood platter, Ceviche (or Cebiche) and has almost over 450 different typical dishes. In 2012, Frommer’s chose Lima, Peru as its “Top Food & Drink Destination.” The travel guide site highlights the country’s “seafood” and and culinary mix as reasons why the city is such a popular stop for foodies. (credit:Getty Images)
Pisco(02 of09)
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The grape-brandy’s origins have long been debated but, while Pisco is quite popular in Chile, Peruvians will be the first to tell you: “It’s Ours.” Regardless of its roots, Pisco is an integral part of Peruvian culture. The clear spirit is often served as a Pisco Sour -- which contains lime juice, egg white, Angostura bitters, and syrup. It’s a lot tastier than it sounds. (credit:Shutterstock)
Quechua(03 of09)
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Quechua was the primary language of the Inca civilization -- the largest empire in pre-Columbian America -- and is currently the third most widely spoken language in Latin America. Modern day Quechua speakers steadfastly preserve their tradition and culture. With over 8 million speakers in the Americas, there are many Quechua-speaking people who don’t need to learn Spanish for day-to-day life. Fun Fact: When speaking, Quechua people use "evidential" clitics that indicate from which authority the information being said is coming from. (credit:Shutterstock)
Machu Picchu: A World Wonder(04 of09)
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Hidden high atop the Andes mountains, the citadel known to be a sacred religious site or estate for Inca leaders can be reached today after a trek from nearby Cuzco. Several trails exist to reach this site unknown to the modern world until 1911, when American archaeologist Hiram Bingham discovered it. Thousands travel to Machu Picchu every year and the UNESCO World Heritage Site was also named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. Feeling adventurous? Take the 4 day jungle trek to the site. (credit:Shutterstock)
The Inca Empire(05 of09)
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As evident by the last two points, some of Peru’s greatest cultural marvels were born from the Inca Empire -- the largest pre-Columbian civilization in the Americas. The Incas had developed highly complicated systems to keep track of their empire’s growth, one of which was the Quipus knots. These once mysterious bundles of thread are now considered by scientist to be a form of recording information. (credit:Getty Images)
Nazca lines(06 of09)
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Fly over the Nazca Desert in southern Peru and you will see a bird, a monkey, a killer whale, a hummingbird below. This is no zoo amid the arid landscape, they are the Nazca lines. These ancient geoglyphs were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. (credit:Getty Images)
Mario Vargas Llosa(07 of09)
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Renowned for his role in the Latin American literature boom, Vargas Llosa rose to fame with his first novel “La Ciudad Y Los Perros.” In 2010, the Peruvian novelist received the Nobel Prize in Literature “for his cartography of structures of power and his trenchant images of the individual's resistance, revolt, and defeat." (credit:AP)
Stunning Geography (08 of09)
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Over twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, the Cotahuasi Canyon near Arequipa is the deepest canyon in the world. The Colca Canyon -- also in Peru -- is the world’s second deepest canyon. The Amazon River may stretch across several South American countries, but its source can be found high in the Peruvian Andes at the Nevado Mismi. As the World’s second-longest river -- and the largest by waterflow -- the Amazon is a magnificent site to hold but beware of the creatures in its depths: anaconda, caiman, and piranhas to name a few. (credit:Shutterstock)
Potatoes(09 of09)
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You like those french fries with that burger? Well you can thank Peru for every delicious fry, potato chip, or baked potato that has ever crossed your lips. In 2005, U.S. scientists traced the (figurative) roots of the Potato back to Peru -- 7,000 years ago. (credit:Shutterstock)
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