Debit's Global Album of the Month: A Dub-Infused Reimagining of Cumbia Rebajada
Mexican-American producer Delia Beatriz, aka Debit, has long been fascinated with historical sounds and their ability to be reinterpreted in modern contexts. Her latest album, Desaceleradas (Decelerated), takes on the 90s trend of cumbia rebajada, a dub-influenced take on the Afro-Latin dance genre of cumbia, which slows down the typically upbeat sound to a sludgy tempo.
Beatriz's approach is both innovative and unsettling. By applying her own signature electronic processing techniques to traditional samples from DJ Gabriel Dueñez's early releases, she creates an otherworldly atmosphere that veers between ambient textures and noise-infused chaos. Tracks like La Ronda y el Sonidero and Vinilos Trasnacionales retain hints of the original cumbia shuffle and twanging synth melody but are transformed by Beatriz into eerie drones and yearning soundscapes.
Desaceleradas is more than just a slowed-down exercise in sonic manipulation; it's an exploration of the inherent strangeness of the present moment. By extending the beats to uncomfortable lengths, Beatriz strips away the veneer of familiarity and forces us to confront the dissonance at the heart of any experience. This is not background music but an immersive soundworld that conjures feelings of dread and discomfort.
What's remarkable about Desaceleradas is its ability to harness the emotional intensity of slowness and subtlety, creating a sense of unease equivalent to that experienced during moments of noise or chaos. This uneasy quality makes for a deeply unsettling yet captivating listening experience.
Mexican-American producer Delia Beatriz, aka Debit, has long been fascinated with historical sounds and their ability to be reinterpreted in modern contexts. Her latest album, Desaceleradas (Decelerated), takes on the 90s trend of cumbia rebajada, a dub-influenced take on the Afro-Latin dance genre of cumbia, which slows down the typically upbeat sound to a sludgy tempo.
Beatriz's approach is both innovative and unsettling. By applying her own signature electronic processing techniques to traditional samples from DJ Gabriel Dueñez's early releases, she creates an otherworldly atmosphere that veers between ambient textures and noise-infused chaos. Tracks like La Ronda y el Sonidero and Vinilos Trasnacionales retain hints of the original cumbia shuffle and twanging synth melody but are transformed by Beatriz into eerie drones and yearning soundscapes.
Desaceleradas is more than just a slowed-down exercise in sonic manipulation; it's an exploration of the inherent strangeness of the present moment. By extending the beats to uncomfortable lengths, Beatriz strips away the veneer of familiarity and forces us to confront the dissonance at the heart of any experience. This is not background music but an immersive soundworld that conjures feelings of dread and discomfort.
What's remarkable about Desaceleradas is its ability to harness the emotional intensity of slowness and subtlety, creating a sense of unease equivalent to that experienced during moments of noise or chaos. This uneasy quality makes for a deeply unsettling yet captivating listening experience.