Bruno y El Grupo Arevalo. Rolando: Cosas Raras LP

Cosas Raras is the new album from Argentina's cumbia hero Rolando Bruno. On Cosas Raras, Bruno and his band Grupo Arévalo romp through twelve tracks of their signature "cumbia trash" sound -- a rough and ready mix of Peruvian-inspired cumbia, punk, and other vintage throwback musical and visual inspirations from pop culture (like UFOs, street food and horror movies), all spun together into a wild mashup. Cosas Raras is the group's third album, and finds them traveling even farther afield -- exploring Arabic and flamenco influences, Afro disco, Japanese pop, Latin American baladas, and even Dominican merengue. This last genre serves as inspiration for the album's lead single, "Merentrash," a fun and very danceable "merenrap' tune with a retro Miami club vibe. In the vein of contemporary experimental underground tropical artists like Chicha Libre, Meridian Brothers, Frente Cumbiero, Acid Coco, Money Chicha, Xixa, and C.A.M.P.O.S., Rolando Bruno Y Su Grupo Arévalo are an important part of the scene, but are not yet as well known in the U.S. at the moment. Cosas Raras is set to change this unwarranted obscurity with its infectious rhythms, psychedelic guitar flourishes and memorable melodies. Multi-instrumentalist and graphic designer Rolando Bruno was born and raised in Buenos Aires and lived three years in Spain, before returning home to pursue his unique musical sound and accompanying visual style. His current musical project (psychedelic cumbia and other tropical sounds) was conceived in 2005. In 2015 Bruno expanded his approach, putting together a live band and reintroducing himself as Rolando Bruno Y El Grupo Arévalo. His backing band is a "supergroup' of sorts, composed of underground musicians from Buenos Aires, including members of Les Mentettes, Alfonso El Pintor, Los Alamos, and Pecera.