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Since the release of their critically acclaimed debut album in 2013 on Names You Can Trust, La Mecánica Popular has quietly been contemplating the evolution of the group's sound, philosophy, and overall approach to making music. Band leader Efraín Rozas' experimental nature has continually pushed the boundaries of his own definition of not only Latin American music, but its broader relationship with music's global culture and history. The sound of "psychedelic salsa" that LMP helped capture in their debut was destined for further outside-the-box interpretations, and with the formation of a new quintet lineup over the last few years, LMP began to incorporate a more free, improvised and instrumental-focused performance of Rozas' increasingly radical compositions. The band subsequently took this liberated approach directly into the studio, recording Roza Cruz live, in its entirety. It was a cathartic experience, a necessary methodology for the new album's concept that embraced the intimate performance of its players and did away with standard techniques of isolation and overdubs.

The evolution of the band's sound on Roza Cruz brings forth a blend of styles rarely heard together, a touch reminiscent of electric-era Miles Davis or Eddie Palmieri at his most experimental, as the driving force of timbales and congas provide a bed for a wave of lush, analog amplification that mirrors the dueling leads of fuzz guitar and electric piano. But as far out as those instruments take the listener, the raw rhythm — the clave — always keeps it tethered to the earth and the dance, a cerebral yet visceral gift for the mind and feet.

Raúl Monsalve y Los Forajidos welcome listeners to a new day with SOL, their groundbreaking second album for Olindo Records. Venezuelan rhythms and traditional songs blend with spiritual jazz, psychedelic funk, and Afrobeat, delivering an exhilarating, boundary-pushing experience.
Led by Venezuelan bassist Raúl Monsalve, the group gained international acclaim with Bichos (2020), praised for its Afrobeat influences from legends like Fela Kuti and Orlando Julius, alongside Afro-Venezuelan rhythms. Featuring Luzmira Zerpa (Family Atlantica) and Betsayda Machado, the album earned praise from The Wire, Songlines, Gilles Peterson, and others, with airplay on BBC 6 Music, NTS, and Worldwide FM. This success brought performances at Super Sonic Jazz Festival and Shambala Festival.
SOL marks a leap forward for Los Forajidos, evolving from a studio project into a cohesive ensemble. Monsalve, now contributing bass, vocals, and percussion, is joined by vocalist Lya Bonilla, keyboardist Edgar Bonilla, flautist/guitarist Nando Guerrero, saxophonist Andrés Vela, drummer Mario Orsinet, and percussionist Yves Prud’homme.
The album features contributions from producer Nick Woodmansey (Emanative), singer Carlos Talez, mixing by Malcolm Catto (The Heliocentrics), percussionist Gustavo Ovalles, and Congolese guitarist Kiala Nzavotunga.
Drawing from Venezuelan traditions while embracing modern influences like George Clinton, Herbie Hancock’s Mwandishi, Jeff Parker, and Nyege Nyege Tapes, SOL bridges cultural heritage and forward-thinking artistry.

Over the course of the last two decades, of Montreal’s creative force, Kevin Barnes, has been wowing fans with their vast catalog of endlessly fascinating pop and mesmerizing live shows. Barnes’ songwriting and production aesthetic has since become iconic in the industry and has garnered massive critical acclaim in publications such as Rolling Stone, The New York Times, NPR, and Pitchfork, who described the band’s album, Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? as “ceaselessly fascinating and inexhaustibly replayable,” as well as ranking it as the #5 album of the year. Barnes’ influence on pop music is undeniable, with multiple late night TV appearances, including The Late Show With David Letterman and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, as well as brilliant collaborations with the likes of Solange, Janelle Monáe, Jon Brion, and others. The band has also performed across the globe, with festival appearances at Coachella, Sasquatch!, Pitchfork Music Festival and others, as well as hundreds of millions of streams worldwide.

On of Montreal’s latest album, Freewave Lucifer f ck, Barnes continues to push the boundaries of what pop music can be. On songs like “Marijuana’s A Working Woman,” Barnes revisits themes of psychedelia using pulsating synths

Latin-infused Hip-Hop project by The Breed and Richard Holzmann feat. FLKS, Cy Leo, Kid Taro, Phlocalyst and Franz. Cover photo by the legendary Estevan Oriol (Netflix / LA Originals)

It all started in 2020 when producer The Breed and guitarist Richard Holzmann decided to start their own project called PAPI CHURRO. The two german musicians came up with a unique combination of latin-folk and HipHop Sounds. Almost like a Lo-Fi Beat version of guys like João Gilberto or Carlos Jobim. But also the typical Mexican sounds of Druglord Movies like „Narcos“ are part of their soundcollage. In very short time PAPI CHURRO gained a fanbase and millions of streams on the net. Since all the instruments are played live the songs are not your average Samplebeat but come with some more complex arrangements. But still producer The Breed clearly references those „Chops and Breaks Roots“ on the songs.

Now it’s time for their first full-length LP. El Clásico features all of their recently released tunes but also comes with a bunch of new material. It features a lot of talented guest musicians. Blue-note artists Phlocalyst on some trumpet parts, Harmonica world champion Cy Leo from Hongkong. Lo-Fi producer Kid Taro and Bassplayer and producer FLKS appear throughout the record.