[Reaper16]

17. Ondatropica – Ondatropica

Ondatropica is something of a Cumbia supergroup. Do you know Cumbia? It’s the national musical genre of Colombia, sort of related to salsa. This project consists of over 40 musicians, mostly from Colombia, but also featuring some transplants, all coming together to re-interpret what Cumbia means in the 21st century. There’s tons of traditional instruments, there’s tons of players playing instruments they aren’t familiar with, there’s 80-year-old dudes rapping, there’s bagpipes playing Caribbean music, there’s a cover of Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man.” It’s nearly insane! And yet this project somehow sounds timeless. This, folks, is musical history. This is the past and future of latin music. It’s pan-national in all of the best ways. I defy you not to put this record on while cooking or cleaning or something and not come out of the ordeal smiling. This is infectious stuff.