Still Skanking - Desorden Publico "Los Dados de La Muerte"

Venezuela's top ska band Desorden Publico have been making music for more than 25 years and they just get better with each new album.

Their latest video for Los Dados de La Muerte, from the EP "Los Contrarios" shows a re-energized Desorden Publico in blistering form.

After the Colombian-influenced cumbia-ska of their last hit single Cristo Navaja, Los Dados de la Muerte is a return to the classic 80s ska of Madness and The Specials that first inspired them to start a band in 1985.

It features a cameo by Kanikazu Tanaka of Japanese ska band Dad Mom God.

Cristo Navaja - Cumbia-Ska from Venezuela

Filmed in the picturesque mountain towns of Altos de Paramillo, Peribeca and El Topón around San Cristobal on the Venezuelan-Colombian border, Venezuelan ska band Desorden Publico's latest release is a whimsical confection of folk tradition and magical realism.

Models, folk dancers and men in Colombian hats with machetes make this the most colourful video the Desordenados have done for a long while and comes from their latest album Los Contrarios.

So what are you waiting for? Wave your machete in the air like you just don't care and sing!

Cristo Navaja


Caminaba por un mercado de esos muy improvisados
y en la mitad de la calle una vendedora ambulante
que tenia un ojo de vidrio me mostró un curioso artículo...
era un pequeño llavero con forma de crucificado Cristo


Fue así como compré esa potente cruz de metal
que tenía escrita la inscripción made in Taiwan
resulta ser que esa cruz dentro de sí oculta una navaja
que como una pico 'e loro - fuiss
despliega punzante el arma


Cristo navaja, Cristo Navaja
defiende mi billetera mientras da cobijo a mi alma


Cristo navaja, Cristo Navaja
defiende mi billetera mientras da cobijo a mi alma


Vamos to' el mundo!
Cristo Navaja, Cristo Navaja
Chumba la candela, maquinolandera
Dale cobijo a mi alma!

Venezuelan ska band Desorden Publico star in BBC documentary

Veteran BBC presenter Jonathan Dimbleby joins Desorden Publico - a ska band that has been at the top of the charts in Venezuela for over a quarter of a century - as part of his documentary series "South American Journey with Jonathan Dimbleby", which airs on BBC 2 at 8 p.m. on 25 September.

Playing to audiences of up to 150,000 people, Desorden Publico are not mere entertainers but have a profound political purpose invariably challenging the status quo.

As Jonathan stomps his feet to their energetic beat, Horacio Blanco, the lead singer is worried. He tells Jonathan that Chavez's 21st century Socialist revolution has polarised the country.

A video of Desorden Publico in London playing the song Monkey Ska

The veteran BBC presenter also visited Hato Masaguaral, a ranch in the plains of Los LLanos Venezuela, that breeds an endangered species of crocodile commonly know as the Caiman del Orinoco. Video here.

The full documentary of Jonathon Dimbleby's documentary on Colombia and Venezuela is being shown on BBC 2 at 8 p.m. on 25 September and will be available on the iPlayer for a week after broadcast.

4to Poder and Horacio Blanco - Tolerancia

Horacio Blanco, the lead singer of Venezuelan ska legends Desorden Publico, joins up-and-coming rap collective 4to Poder on their latest single "Tolerancia".

Click here for a video of 4to Poder song "Fuerza Pal Latino"

Click here for a video of Desorden Publico song "Monkey Ska" filmed in London

Palmeras Kanibales - Venezuelan ska in London

Palmeras Kanibales are a Venezuelan group that fuses reggae, ska and rocksteady with Caribbean rhythms. Catch them on the London leg of their 6th European tour where they will present their new album and play three special gigs: an acoustic session and live Q&A at Bolivar Hall on the 12 August, plus two gigs with all the trimmings at the Hootananny in Brixton on 13 August and the underground warehouse venue Passing Clouds in Dalston, Hackney, on 14 August.

In the meantime, here's a video of the group playing "La Culebra".

Video: Desorden Publico - Monkey Ska

Video: Desorden Publico - New album

Desorden Público to launch new album - teaser!

Venezuelan ska legends Desorden Público are in final preparations for a highly-anticipated new album. This teaser video gives a hint of some of the new tracks. As soon as I get more info I'll update the post.

Fauna Crepuscular - Birra

Venezuela is a nation of beer drinkers. At the beach, at home, after work in pubs, clubs and restaurants, wherever you go you'll find people chugging ice cold brewskis to keep the tropical heat at bay.

The Irish of the Americas, Venezuelans drink more of the amber nectar per head than any other South Americans.

According to the 2008 edition of the Economist magazine's "Pocket World in Figures" the top beer drinkers in the world in litres per person per year are:
1. Czech Republic, 81.9 litres
2. Venezuela, 76.7 litres
3. Australia, 69.3 litres
4. Germany, 67.9 litres
5. Austria, 66.2 litres
6. Finland, 65.4 litres
7. England, 62.6 litres
8. USA, 62.5 litres
9. Slovakia, 62.4 litres
10. Denmark, 60.8 litres

This ska-tastic ode to Venezuela's favourite leisure pursuit by Caracas-based band Fauna Crepuscular has become something of a summer anthem this year.

It's got all the ingredients for a top hit: The words couldn't be simpler, the message couldn't be more profound, and the beat couldn't be any bouncier.

So let's all sing along.

Birra. Yo lo que quiero es una birra.
Yo lo que quiero es tomar,
Sin parar!

Beer. I want a beer.
I want to drink,
Without stopping!

Who said the art of poetry is dead?

Russell Maddicks

Babylon Motorhome: ComoCumbia

The very excellent Venezuelan collective known as Babylon Motorhome have taken Colombian cumbia, electronica, drum and bass and some hot ska brass and made it all dubtastically nice and funky in their latest project. The group, which combines music with cutting-edge graphic design and audiovisuals, have created several versions of the track, available on an album of the same name on Pilla Records. The album cover features a "pabellon criollo", Venezuela's national dish, a plate of black beans, fried plantains, rice and shredded beef. Tasty.

ComoCumbia tracklist:
1. RadioEdit, Feat. MC Cotufa (BMH-Aldo)
2. Bucare Dub (Ortega&Cassette)
3. Drum&bass Mix (Emmerson+Turtled)
4. ILoveMyMotorhome Mix (Jimmy Flamante)
5. Cumbia Nuclear Mix (Club Nuclear)
6. Perro Campeón Mix (Los Domingues)
7. Buenas Tardes Hiphop Mix (BMH)
8. Cariaquito Hiphop Mix (BMH)
9. Raíces Mix (BMH)

Video: Babylon Motorhome remix Simon Diaz - "Angustia"

Desorden Publico: Monkey Ska

Venezuela's favourite ska band Desorden Publico came to London to play a show in 2005 and decided to make this video of a Derek Harriot number. For some reason they also decided to feature the distinctive double-decker buses of the capital.

Sadly, it was 7th of July and the London tube and buses were hit by suicide bombings that very same day.

The band finished the video but the gig was cancelled and their tour over. This excellent cover of a ska classic appears on their 2007 album: "Estrellas del Caos".

The video was filmed and edited by Ignacio Crespo.

Babylon Motorhome and Simon Diaz: Angustia

Simon Diaz is best known for his popular interpretations of musica llanera, the folk music of the Llanos, especially his romantic versions of working songs known as tonadas. Here, one of his lilting ballads gets a radical ska makeover by the Caracas-based band Babylon Motorhome. The track appears on the album "Simon Diaz Remixes".

Track Listing:
1. Garcita - Simón Díaz vs Rombo
2. Clavelito Colorado - Simón Díaz vs Trujillo
3. Angustia - Simón Díaz vs BMH
4. Tonada de una llena - Simón Díaz vs KP 9000
5. Sabana - Simón Díaz vs Dr Muu
6. Arbolito Sabanero - Simón Díaz vs Masseratti 2lts
7. Mi Querencia - Simón Díaz vs Panasuyo
8. Tonada del Cabrestero - Simón Díaz vs Spyro
9. Sabana - Simón Díaz vs Garnica
10. Arbolito Sabanero - Simón Díaz vs GM120 + KP9000
11. Pasaje Garcita - Simón Díaz vs Todosantos
12. Tonada del Cabrestero - Simón Díaz vs Velazco
13. Tonada de luna llena - Simón Díaz vs Trilobites
14. Mi Querencia - Simon Diaz vs Cardopusher
15. Tonada de luna llena - Simón Díaz vs La Original

Report: Simon Diaz to be honoured at Latin Grammy Awards

Click here for a video of Simon Diaz singing "Caballo Viejo"

Click here for a video of Babylon Motorhome performing "ComoCumbia"