Los Pericos Essentials

Argentina has one of Latin America's most vibrant reggae scenes. It all started with Los Pericos, a band that has been combining rocksteady, rock ‘n' roll and Spanish lyrics since way back in 1987. The new sound was immediately a hit: El Ritual de la Banana, the band's fun, sometimes silly debut LP, made them South American stars. And though Jamaican concerts followed, Los Pericos have never lost their outsider's sense of humour or their eclectic taste. In fact, the group's playful horn arrangements and quirky vocals often recall California ska as much as anything from the Caribbean.