With the compilation series 'The Roots Of Chicha', Chicha Libre's Olivier Conan returns to the roots of this Peruvian music genre. Starting at the end of the sixties, chicha (originally the name of an alcoholic drink based on fermented corn and dating back to the time of the Incas) was the music of the cholos (insult for someone of indigenous origin in Latin-America) from the slums of Lima. Initially, the genre was still simply known as Peruvian cumbia (a designation it still retains among the Peruvian middle class) whith the electric guitar playing a central role. The genre is, of course, strongly influenced by its Colombian counterpart, but influences from Cuban guajiras and guarachas and Western surf rock and psychedelia gave chicha its own unique identity. The whole story is still a lot more complicated, but for that yours truly refers to the extensive liner notes added to the album. These two compilation albums offer a wonderful introduction to a genre, forgotten outside of Peru. In the spirit of completeness we'll end by telling you the first part of this series already appeared back in 2007 on the small Barbès Records label.