Consumer Guide Album

The Rough Guide to Cumbia [World Music Network, 2000]
Slightly pokier than World Circuit's two Cumbia Cumbia comps, and mouldier as well (most artists born in the '20s and '30s, youngest in '53), these 22 tracks from Colombia's Sonolux label (the World Circuits are Disco Fuentes, for those who know the difference) partake nevertheless of cumbia's sprightly shit-kick, which is several pelvic rolls more fluid than its Tex-Mex conjunto cousins. Despite several avowed dance anthems, it flirts with the generic. But with some out-of-the-way genres, that's just what most of us need. A-