La Banda Chuska detonates like a technicolor explosion of psychedelic surf rock colliding with the vibrant rhythms of Peruvian cumbia on new album Basic Bichos.
Basic Bichos is a masterclass in genre fusion, blending cumbia and surf with garage-punk’s irreverence and visceral energy. Each band member contributed to the album’s ten tracks, creating a diverse but cohesive sound that showcases their talent for bending musical boundaries. The production is a swirling mix of biting guitars, catchy keyboard melodies (accordion, synth, Farfisa), and vocals that shift from polished pop to moments of chaotic catharsis.
While the album builds on the band’s joyful, party-ready sound, it also weaves in an undercurrent of social commentary. Four of the tracks are animal-themed, from the sardonic “El Bagre” (a critique of New York City’s artists living off the scraps of the rich) to “Ratas y Mapaches,” where rats and raccoons are crowned the true rulers of NYC real estate. The record also tackles themes like self-acceptance of the shadow side (“Bailando con mi Oscuridad“) and a real-life survival story (“La Selva Me Salvó”). “Mansplayner” is a biting commentary on the current state of insecure, performative masculinity. The line “El que habla más tiene más que esconder” (“He who talks the most has the most to hide”) could double as a mission statement for every tech CEO and authoritarian politician in need of a self-reflective therapy session.
Recorded live to tape by band members/producers Adele Fournet and Felipe Wurst (both also of Tipa Tipo), Basic Bichos was mixed primarily by Wurst, with additional mixing by Charlie Scovall (producer for LA LOM) on two tracks. Mastering was handled by Frankie Sunswept, and the album is accompanied by two playful music videos for “La Selva Me Salvó” (directed by Matthew Williams) and “Ratas y Mapaches” (directed by Brett Burton).
