The Roots of Chicha
Various Artists
In a similar spirit to Anglo hippie psychedelia, South America experienced its own dose of trippiness during the late ‘60s, as evidenced by the eccentric The Roots of Chicha—a vibrant Peruvian cumbia compilation stemmed in Amazonian folklore and psychedelic rock. While the colorful “Sonido Amazonico” features coolly bizarre surf-pop riffs with rustic flamboyance, the outlandish “Ya Se Ha Muerto Mi Abuelo” shines with electric organ swirls. Things get weirder on “Vacilando Con Ayahuasca,” with satirical vocals that solicit that revered tropical vine brew.