Luis Alvarado: ELECTRIC PANDILLA - 30th August 2025

This mixtape brings together pieces of pandilla eléctrica, an adaptation of a festive genre central to the cultural identity of the Peruvian Amazon. Traditionally tied to carnival and collective dance, its traditional regional ensemble format includes bass drum, snare drum, and quena flute. In the 1970s, the pandilla was transformed with guitars, keyboards, and synthesizers, engaging in dialogue with cumbia and other tropical rhythms. The selection combines recordings from emblematic tropical selvático ensembles with recent projects such as Wayku and Oriente Trío, which expand the pandilla toward jazz and experimentation.
Find the full tracklist and related episodes on NTS: https://www.nts.live/shows/luis-alvarado/episodes/luis-alvarado-30th-august-2025