Currulao, from Colombia’s Pacific coast, is just one of myriad thriving musical forms to result from the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Rooted in African traditions, it’s built round tumbling 6/8 polyrhythmic percussion patterns played on traditional drums. The melodic element is provided by the marimba de chonta – ‘the queen of the rainforest’ – a percussion instrument with a woody sound generated by 24 resonant keys made of the chonta palm tree.
That’s the vibe underlying the music of Franco-Colombian ensemble Pixvae. Their sound has evolved from Afro-Colombian folk into a decidedly weirder hybrid. The Colombian element is provided by percussionist/vocalists Israel Quinones and Jennyfer ‘Xiomara’ Torres, and marimba player Juan Carlos Arrechea. They’re teamed with French trio Kouma – guitarist Damien Cluzel and drummer Léo Dumont, with Romain Dugelay on synths and sax.
