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Nicolá Cruz - Rio Branco

Nicola Cruz was born in Limoges, France. His parents are from Ecuador. He uses electronic music as a means of exploring and reconnecting with his family's culture.

I've heard hundreds of attempts to marry electronic music with South American styles. None of it ever quite resonated with me. However, Cruz takes it to a different place. This is not your run of the mill Andean flute and techno beats. None of it sounds tacky or lacking respect for the source material. He samples and mutates the sounds of the Andes and Amazon without losing their soul. It's all there, intact, but presented abstractly. There's a depth here that is worth listening for intently.

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