Gata Galáctica surfs the cosmos with cumbia
We first got a listen to the Portland-based six-piece cumbia band, Gata Galactica, last year when they released their psychedelic surf rock single, “Septiembre.” Their music cultivates a rare crossover of surf guitar twang, Afrobeat rhythms, and South American cumbia.
Their latest single, “Arrópame (Manto de Luna)” drops you into a kaleidoscopic groove-state. It has got thick Latin percussion that thrusts you forward combined with a shimmering guitar that washes over you like a Pacific breeze. Add in an unexpected burst of cosmic keyboards and you’ve got “Arrópame.” The effect is both nostalgic and fresh — like discovering a dusty surf-rock 45 in a flea market, only to realise it was recorded last month.
