Tropical psych outfit, Lola’s Dice, return with an exhilarating double AA side 45 on “Cacri ‘e Playa” b/w “Señor Cartujo”. Venezuelan strains of Caribbean rhythms blend with South American grit and humour; aided and abetted by studio maverick and renown bandleader Alex Figueira (Fumaça Preta, Conjunto Papa Upa). The African Caribbean vibrations of “Cacri ‘e Playa” tell a story of a stray dog whose sole habitat consists of the beach. A common phenomenon all across the Caribbean coastline shared by Venezuela and Colombia. Wonky synths and surf guitars interplay over a stomping extra syncopated drum beat. All things collide towards the end into a 1970’s style Salsa street party, the relentless cowbell driving everyone forward.
On the flip, “Señor Cartujo” contains a humorous tale about the most popular brand of anise liquor in Venezuela (“Cartujo”) and a shameless ode to the glory days of “Techno Merengue”, when Latino rappers in the US started making Dominican Merengue with hip hop influenced vocals and house production techniques and equipment. Lola’s Dice, however, take a more psychedelic approach to this Merengue, oozing with funky guitars and percussion.
Two Cartujo laced, sunburnt sure shots for your next virtual beach party congregation. Another stepping stone in the ever growing Music With Soul catalogue, where every release seems destined to be a classic.