Album: A Cry For Revolution
Artist: Los Ruphay
Catalogue #: EUCD2795
Label: ARC Music
Genre: Bolivian folk music
Release: 27th July 2018
Few bands get to celebrate 50 years together. Bolivian folklore band Los Ruphay are one of the lucky ones; a band that continues to live and play folk songs and music from their home country to the world. ‘A Cry For Revolution’ is an anniversary album to celebrate 50 years, which is a mighty accomplishment by any standards. Los Ruphay was founded in 1968 in La Paz by writer and multi-instrumentalist Mario Gutiérrez, who is named as the guiding spirit on ‘A Cry for Revolution’. Mario spent the next 17 years touring with the band from 1968 – 1985, and during this time they recorded 15 albums together.
Los Ruphay was the first band to sign to ARC Music in 1976 with a vinyl called ‘Folklore of Bolivia’, which is still selling today. The band performs extensively throughout Europe, continuing to perform, record and educate audiences about their Andean home through music and songs. They perform on traditional folk instruments of the Andes including the quena flute, the miniature charango guitar, panflutes, guitars, flutes and uplifting percussion.
Despite the fact that Los Ruphay’s home city of La Paz in Bolivia sparked events leading to the liberation of South America from Spain in the early 19th century, the ‘Cry For Revolution’ is a peaceful one and not a political one. ‘A Cry For Revolution’ is a metaphor for changing attitudes; a cry to heal the earth, respect traditional cultures and for a greater awareness of the fine balance between man and Mother Earth.
The sub-title for ‘A Cry For Revolution’ is ‘Earth Healing Music from Bolivia’, and that is the focus. ‘Ukumanta’ (From Deep Inside) follows the path of modern man over the last few centuries of technological advancement, creating a new artificial world far removed from his roots, surrounded by concrete and noise. In ‘Machaq Pajsi’ (New Moon), the primal principle of life’s equilibrium is explored. The irrepressible energy of the sun is seen in strong contrast to the calming influence of the moon, both forces needed for life, both holding each other in check.
In 'Achachilas' (Mountain Gods) Los Ruphay pay respect to the ancestors and places, where traditions are born and where the elders perform rites to Mother Earth. ‘Pachamamasti Llakitawa’ (Mother Earth is Sad) is an urgent request from Mother Earth (Pachamama) to man to stop his excesses which are hurting nature and all of the environment, and is sung in Aymara. The Aymara people are indigenous to the Andean regions of Bolivia, Peru and Chile. The songs on ‘A Cry for Revolution’ are sung in two of the major languages of Bolivia – Aymara and Spanish.
According to the Encyclopedia of Latin American Popular Music, “In the late 1960s, Los Ruphay of urban La Paz performed somewhat more faithful interpretations of rural indigenous music...” and they have been doing so ever since. Los Ruphay have travelled many miles and many years to create ‘A Cry For Revolution’, released internationally through ARC Music on the 27th July, 2018.
Track Listing: A Cry For Revolution/Los Rupay
1. Marka Kusisita (Joyful Village Community) - 6:34
a. Phulurunas - 1:59
b. Lichiguayos - 2:42
c. Vizcachita - 1:53
2. Chiri Wañuy (A Cold that Kills) - 3:29
3. Tunupan Ajayupaj (Spirit of the Tunupa Mountain) - 2:17
4. Pachamamasti Llakitawa (Mother Earth is Sad) - 4:44
5. Jallalla! Italaque (Long Live Italaque Village!) - 6:01
a. Jausiri - 1:54
b. Chofercito - 2:07
c. Recuerdo de Okola - 2:00
6. Machaq Pajsi (New Moon) - 4:43
7. Jallpa Jailliy (Sun Time) - 5:29
8. Willka Khantu (Sun Khantu) - 5:58
9. Aukinakataki (Tribute to the Ancestors) - 4:18
10. Ukumanta (From Deep Inside) - 5:08
11. Achachilas (Mountain Gods) - 4:34
12. Sumaj Urunaka (Better Days) - 4:52
Total playing time: 58:43 min.
Los Ruphay
Basilio Huarachi Mollo - charango, vocals, flutes
Ramiro Calderón Velarde - panflutes, charango, flutes, percussion
Santiago Heriberto Murillo Garzón - flutes, vocals, percussion
Raúl Chacón Lemus - quena, flutes, charango, percussion
Marco Antonio Peña Barrera - guitar, flutes, percussion
Rupprecht Weerth - quena, flutes
Hannes Trittler - cello
José Jesus Alanoca, Felix Cerezo Alarcón - panflutes, flutes
Guiding spirit: Mario P. Gutiérrez
Special Guest: Luzmila Carpio (tracks 4, 12)
Online artist links:
Website: http://ruphay.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RuphayBolivia/
For more information please contact media@arcmusic.co.uk Tel: +44 (0) 1342 770 486 | ARC Music Productions International | PO Box 111 | East Grinstead | West Sussex | RH19 4FZ | UK www.arcmusic.co.uk