Black Friday Import! LOS DE ABAJO “Latin Ska Force” 2xLP – Legendary 2003 album on vinyl for the first time from Spinning Riot Mexico!

Description

Los de Abajo Mexico City’s equivalent of the Clash: an internationally acclaimed band that blends political commitment with an in-your-face musical attitude. Their name, which translates as “Those From Below”, is redolent of the struggles of oppressed people around the world, and more especially in their homeland. And the music the 10-piece band plays is a high-octane mix of styles, genres, and global influences—both ancient and modern. The group began in 1992 as a Latin ska quartet and grew to include 10 musicians. As new members arrived, they brought fresh influences, and the sound developed into a wide and at times joyfully anarchic blend of Latin pop, rock, jazz, salsa, reggae, hip-hop, ska, cumbia, ranchera, son jarocho, and banda sinaloense music — with hot dose of chili peppers on top.

Unable to sign a major record deal in Mexico, as their music wasn’t considered commercial enough, Los de Abajo self released their first album in 1999 – and immediately began to receive worldwide recognition! The rambunctious sound charmed the ears of David Byrne, who released the band’s self-titled follow-up on his Luaka Bop label. Their next album “Cybertropic Chilango Power” (2002) won BBC Radio 3’s World Music Award for the Americas, and propelled the band to more international stardom, playing the WOMAD festivals in the U.K., the Canary Islands, Australia, and New Zealand.

In 2003 the band chose to go independent once again, producing the ska punk classic “Latin Ska Force” themselves and releasing the CD on legendary Mexican ska/punk imprint Pepe Lobo Records. This CD was a massive underground hit, propelled by an impressive list of guest vocalists from Desorden Publico, Victims Del Dr Celebro, Maldita Vecindad and Panteon Rococo. The CD became Jump Up’s best selling import for many years to come, immediately selling out with each shipment from Mexico City.

In 2006 the band recorded “LDA v The Lunatics” for Peter Gabriel’s Real World label. On that disc, the music was more diverse than ever before. The opening cut, “Resistencia”, featured Comandante Esther of the revolutionary Zapatista movement from southern Mexico, and the album included a Spanish-language version of Fun Boy Three’s “The Lunatics (Have Taken Over the Asylum)”.

Despite their global success, Los de Abajo stay close to their leftist roots, and bring the music to the people as directly as possible — which is probably why the vinyl debut for “Latin Ska Force” is released on top modern Mexican ska imprint Spinning Riot Records. A beautiful gatefold sleeve edition, remastered for vinyl, with record #1 pressed on blue vinyl. Very limited import, special introductory price through Black Friday!