Champeta | 7'' New  

Waaghals Records, 2026. WR034. 

A: Álvaro el Bárbaro – La Nave Espacial
B: Boogaloo – El Muo 

Welcome to Cartagena, the birthplace of champeta: a mixture of Caribbean music, African rhythms and native styles, brought together by the sounds of the Yamaha DD-14 drumcomputer, Casio SK-5 keyboard and rap-like vocals. These energizing beats from the outskirts and ghetto’s of Cartagena had its predessecor called ‘terapia criolla’. Terapia because the music is believed to possess healing and enchanting qualities; criolla in reference to its Afrocolombian origins, specifically San Basilio de Palenque, the first free community in Latin America founded by former African slaves. 

In Cartagena’s Bazurto neighbourhood stood David Borras’ recordshop. In 1996 a former gang member and ex-convict named Álvaro walked in and started singing the song in his head, it’s lyrics describing a spaceship that brings Creole music. With the help of David it became “La Nave Espacial”, the first release on David Records, originally intended for David’s own soundsystem only, his picó El Pioneer. Thirty years later this gem still holds up, now re-released by Waaghals records. Limited 7” vinyl in risograph sleeve with detailed liner notes by Brigitte Coopmans.