Nuevos Ríos is the new project born from the meeting of Colombia’s iconic Canalón de Timbiquí, led by the unmistakable voice of Nidia Góngora (Quantic, Ondatrópica, The Bongo Hop), and the Toulouse-based trio Reco Reco, known for their explorations of trance-driven rhythms from South America and beyond.
As the latest creation to emerge from Colombia’s effervescent scene of rich hybridizations, Nuevos Ríos offers a breathtaking dive into the Afro-descendant traditions of the Colombian Pacific, elevated by electronic and amplified elements. The result is stunning: an odyssey that never strays from its course, transcending boundaries and guiding listeners along the discovery of a new river full of winding paths. In this music, we feel tropical heat, the embodied force of musical traditions, and the sweat of European dancefloors in a unique cocktail —instantly addictive, at times introspective, and always irresistibly danceable.

Originating on the banks of the Timbiquí River, the project took shape through the encounter between Canalón de Timbiquí — the group founded by maestra Nidia Góngora, whose mesmerizing and instantly recognizable voice has illuminated projects like Quantic, Ondatrópica, and The Bongo Hop —and Reco Reco, passionate explorers of trance-inducing music, especially from South America. Far from the beaten path, at the heart of Colombia’s Pacific region, the two groups came together naturally in the village of Timbiquí, the very roots of Canalón’s music and of Nidia Góngora herself. Through a series of improvised jam sessions in the ground floor of Nidia’s home, the hybridization of their music became an obvious path—born from a shared desire to reveal to attentive listeners the strength of this human and musical encounter.

This first chapter, released on ZZK Records — a label renowned for uncovering South American gems (Son Rompe Pera, Nicola Cruz, La Yegros...) —is carried by the singular writing and timbre of Nidia Góngora. Across the tracks, each element of the ensemble finds its rightful place: the power of Colombian Pacific percussion and the poetry of the marimba de chonta catch us around a savory guitar riff never far from West Africa; the strength of the voices is heightened by layers of electronic textures; while drums interlock with bass keys to provide a double engine for the eponymous vessel, Nuevos Ríos. The lyrics tell of a daily life always close to nature, around a river that is both a central artery and a channel of exchange—without shying away from the harsh realities of a region scarred by Colombia’s internal conflicts.

And perhaps this music is already a first response to some of those wounds, in the form of a ritual of collective celebration.The self-titled debut album offers a unique perspective on the Afro-descendant heritage of the Colombian Pacific —augmented by the power of amplified and electronic music. One feels the warmth of the tropics, the strength of percussive and vocal traditions, and the sweat of European dancefloors, for a result that is irresistibly hypnotic and dance-inducing.

SIDE A:
1. Sumba Ale
2. La Luna
3. Malvada
4. Mi Bombo
5. La Vida es un Baile

SIDE B:
1. La Memoria de Justino
2. Si Yo Fuera
3. Todo en Vida
4. Ojunjo