South American Reverb

In front of my desk is a window. In front of the window is sagging greeny-yellow leaves. Skirting around the leaves is the first post-summer gray rain we've had.
Although I spent a hot summer pool/beachside in New York sipping ice cold treats, I feel so glad to be back on green grass. Looking past my laptop at the languid rain, sipping tea and listening to cumbia really doesnt make the rain go away but it sure makes you like days like this.

Grupo Samoa - La Chinchilla

If you do have to brave it, make sure you patronise James Smith & Sons on New Oxford St. and pick yourself up one of their beautiful umbrellas.

While your out in the rain you might as well keep a look out for some cumbia records in you local pound bin. Here's one I got in New York for a dollar to give you some ideas.


I love the faded colours and the seemingly 'on the fly' content of the photo. As with most cumbia records the font is beautiful and has that hand done feel.


The record isn't dated but it feels like it's from the eighties. Cheap plastic wrap, re-used seventies images; cut and pasted into something trying to purvey allure.


My favorite detail is the four small adverts for other LP's in the series at the bottom of the back of the sleeve. More bikini girls, not pseudo beauties that adorn northern american records. These girls have a wry smile and a camera pose that could only say 'home made'.