Those irrepressible fools from Barranquilla are back with their techno carnival. They call their sound "future primitive" as it is a mix of old and new. Instead of cumbia their base is champeta criollo, which is the Colombian take on soukous which was brought to their shores by sailors who always have Fela Kuti and Diblo Dibala records in their kit bags but can't play them on the boat because of the motion (I am guessing this). Anyway those much-coveted African albums became the basis of a new type of music which was patched together with drum machines and synthesizer beats. There is even the nostalgic sound of old radio deejays announcing the next song. This group uses the big sound system as a launching pad for wild vocals and complex rhythms with a big-ass heavy bottom. But it's as much a mission as music, says their leader Juan Carlos Pellegrino. In fact one song, "Machete," deals with GM food since the government mandated that only Monsanto seeds can be sewn in the country! The machete is the farmers' traditional too for clearing land, and dealing with snakes. We can only hope that thousands of these machete-wielding Colombians will show up at the Monsanto offices soon. There is a constant sound-clash vibe here, with samples, different vocalists and different styles taking center stage by turn. For me it doesn't live up to the promise of their debut. The most like their first album is the all-out "El botón del Pantalón MCDJ" and it really revs up, demonstrating they are having a lot of fun. However, in the end, the head-bangers' ball gets a bit too much for these old bones.