Traffic Sound were a Peruvian rock band founded in 1967 by vocalist/percussionist Manuel Sanguinetti, rhythm/bass guitarist Freddy Rizo-Patrón, sax/clarinet/flute & percussion player Jean Pierre Magnet, lead/rhythm guitarist Willy “Wilito” Barclay, bassist/organist/piano/12-string guitarist Willy Thorne and drummer Luis “Lucho” Nevares.
Their title was literally named after a particular traffic light that the band had somehow acquired – one that was placed as a souvenir in the attic of the Rizo-Patróns house where they held their practices after a wild night in Lima!
The band released four full-length albums in the three years they were together (1969-1972) and blended a heady fusion of The Doors, Cream and Hendrix-based influences into their sound. Though these inspirations greatly orientated their musical path, it was their Peruvian folk roots that always gave them their edge.
Taken from their final album, Lux, today’s song was one of 10 tracks that combined their passion for folk and psychedelia with a more sociopolitical approach to their music. El Gusano us a dreamy little number steered by a heady flute melody and and strong percussive element that you can’t help but nod your head too. Vocals are inviting, but instead of leading the song, they mingle with the instrumentation and form part of that intoxicating mellowness….
Check it out above and if you fancy checking out the whole album which, courtesy of Munster Records, was reissued a couple of years back!..find this below! Enjoy!
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