The Penya Influences mix – a 20 minute window into the Penya Laboratory. We’re incredibly excited to present a Macondo exclusive with On The corner records artist Penya doing a special live mix ahead of their show on the 13th April.
Grupo Clave y Guaguancó are possibly the finest exponents of Cuban folkloric music. “Tawiri” from the album ‘Songs and Dances’ (1990) demonstrates the groups fiery yet effortlessly relaxed intensity. The songs opening ‘Palo’ or ‘Congo’ rhythm relates to one of the main Afro-Cuban cultural groups and has it’s origins in the Congo.
The second part of the song is a guaguancó, one of the styles which make up the genre known as ‘rumba cubana’, Rumba is literally music of the street, or backyard, and freely takes on influences from anywhere and everywhere.
The rumba gives way to “Search it out” from Magnus P.I’s “Penya Investigations” cassette. A co-write between Magnus and Penya’s multi-instrumentalist front women Lilli Elina, the track takes influence from the Cuban spirit of invention, and also from rhythms found in Morocco. The following excerpt from the Voix de Mahgreb record (aquired by Magnus on a recent trip to Essaouira) highlights the Moroccan influence with its clattering percussion and trance qualities.
Cham Bomb from Penya’s “Beat Your Demon” EP is another example of the bands playful experimentation, giving way to the beautiful ‘Canto a Asoyín’. from Anthología de la música cubana, Vol.I. This is an Afro-Cuban chant to an orisha (deity) by the name of Asojano, also known as Babalu-Aye, the god of sickness, from a smaller but significant Afro-Cuban cultural group called Arará – many of this group came to Cuba as refugees from the Haitian Revolution and brought a strong set of musical and cultural influences that permeate Cuban music – the following juxtaposition with Penya’s “Beat Your Demon” culminates in a solitary Bata groove from Jim L M; another tribute to the rich and impossibly deep roots of Cuban folklore.
A brief excerpt of another old Moroccan vinyl follows. (another acquisition from Essaouira) Little is known about Rais Miloud, yet the tribal stomp, horns, yelling and off kilter hand claps of the track is very appealing.
After an expert from Penya’s “Why So Angry” the mix concludes with another utterly beautiful Rumba from Grupo Clave y Guaguanco.
Penya play Cafe 1001 in Brick lane on Thursday 13th April, supported by FUNK BASTARD (Darker than Wax) and On the corner DJs .
Track listing :
1) “Tawiri” Grupo Clave y Guaguanco
2) “Search it out” Magnus P.I feat Penya
3) “Makan ande bril” Mona ou Mouzounne (Voix de Mahgreb)
4) “Cham Bomb” Penya
5) “Canto de Asoyin” Antología de la Música AfroCubana Vol. 01 – Viejos Cantos AfroCubanos
6) “Beat your demon” Penya
7) Rais Miloud (Folklore Awad)
8) “Why so Angry” – Penya
9) Cantaremos y Baileremos & Yo Soy Descendiente De Los Timbaleros – Grupo Clave y Guaguanco
Like Penya and On The Corner on Facebook