Santuario/Sanctuary

If you wanted a snapshot of contemporary Latin American music in the UK at this moment, then you couldn’t ask for more than this 19-track compilation from London-based promoters Movimientos (celebrating their 15th anniversary). Genre-wise it’s a broad church though it’s clear to see how much cumbia, of the electronic and acoustic varieties, has found favour in the UK, with the opening hypnotic loops of Xaman X (remixed by Village Cuts) effortlessly getting things started with a gallop, before Mama Racho and Imperio Bamba give their full band take on that classic beat, with Malphino’s glorious spaghetti western take perhaps the cream of the crop. Elsewhere, Soundspecies’ pulsing collaboration with Luzmira Zerpa is a hefty Afro-jazz gem, its bombast equalled by Esteban Card’s hook-laden ‘Sacúdelo’. Together with established acts like Andean staple Lokandes and Latin jazz-rap fusioneers WARA, as well as the more reggaeton and R&B rooted sounds of newcomers Stephanie Santiago and Pao Pestana, it becomes clear that the UK has a wealth of inventive and passionate Latin American music at its doorstep. And if that wasn’t enough, all profits go towards Latin American migrant communities affected by COVID-19.