Locos Por Juana is a great band. Everywhere they've played, they've torn up the stage with their terrific energy. LPJ has released three full-length albums, two of which; Musica Pa'l Pueblo (2005) and La Verdad (2008) were nominated for Grammy's for Best Latin Rock Album. They gig incessantly, having toured Europe and performed at many music festivals including the upcoming Heineken TransAtlantic Music Festival and the Montreal Jazz Festival. With all this success, LPJ's road to stardom has been a bumpy, adventurous one. It's seems every time I turn around their line up either expands or contracts, they are either on this indie label or on that major label. And in between all of this, their sound has gone through some changes as well, so its fitting that Locos Por Juana's titled their latest EP release, Evolucion.
Known for their explosive ragga-cumbia-rock sound, they've recently tapped into the underground beats of Champeta music. Champeta is a kind of electronic, Afro-Caribbean dance music. It's not too unlike Reggaeton in that it's heavily influenced by hip-hop and that its the music of the street and of the youth. However Champeta was born in the barrios of the Colombian Atlantic coast, so there's a different swing to the beat which in some circumstances, is pretty wicked sounding. Not to say that all Champeta is good, that would be like saying that all Crunk is good. But like I said, if it's done right...and in the case of LPJ; a band who's roots are Colombian, it's done very right. First track, "Afro Sound" slithers in Afrobeat-style then bounces hard to that Champeta "electropical" beat. There's also a "Palenke Soul Tribe" remix version "Afro Sound" that's hot. Tracks "Evolucion" and "Chismosa" are classic Locos Por Juana - no one else could have created those songs, but them. It's that ragga Cumbia man, that's their shit and they are exceeding good at it. Next up the ominous "Plata O Plomo", featuring the sick flow of Miami-based MC Omniscient. This is the laid-back track of the EP, very groovy, but the anthemic rave freak-out S.H.I.E.L.D remix version of "Plata O Plomo" (also included on this EP) is the most dope. Apparently this track is going to be featured in director John Human's indie film of the same name, so keep ear to the ground (www.plataoplomofilm.com). All in all, Evolucion is the a perfect tasty little morsel of what is to come from Locos Por Juana. It is in a sense, their evolutionary link between their past and future and if the future sounds anything like this EP, it's going to sweet.
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