There is no shortage of “People Are Strange” covers in the world, but “Todos Son Raros,” a Spanish rendition by Tropa Magica, is 100% worth your attention. The L.A.-based band reimagines the Doors classic as a groovy cumbia with some surfy reverb and an expanded guitar solo that ventures into Middle Eastern psychedelia. It’s wild and lives up to the title of Tropa Magica’s latest album, Para Bailar y Tripiar.
Tropa Magica is brothers David (guitar) and Rene (drums) Pacheco and has been around since 2018, playing a hybrid of cumbia, psychedelic rock and punk. I caught them live last Fourth of July at Grand Park, where they played with Healing Gems and Grupo Soñador and was impressed with their energy, which prompted both a mosh pit and a conga line in the crowd. Para Bailar y Tripiar is a little more relaxed than their live performance, at least at the start of the album.
Para Bailar y Tripiar has the flow of a party. Tropa Magica eases in listeners with the gentle rhythm of “Al Amar” and “Xochi” then gradually builds momentum on “Ojos de Lagrimas” and “Bailando con el Diablo.” Right after that “Todos Son Raros,” which anyone will instantly recognize as “People Are Strange” hits. The party people are now hooked. Tropa Magica follows this up with “Ovnidelic,” a six-minute cumbia Krautrock jam that is dancey, trippy and one of the standouts on the album.
The band keeps up the energy for the next four songs, then gradually comes down with “Zancudo,” which has a bit of a Malo feel to it. Closer “Gengar” brings up the tempo, but it’s the last minute, when the very upbeat song morphs into an Art Laboldies-style slow jam, that takes the song to the next level. What a finale!
Honestly, Para Bailar y Tripiar has been in my collection for close to two weeks now and I’ve listened to it a handful of times, but it still seems like it might be too soon to review it. There’s so much going on in this album, that I know there’s going to be more to hear within it over the coming months, but that’s also part of what makes Tropa Magica’s latest album such a good one.
Get Para Bailar y Tripiar by Tropa Magica
Liz O. is an L.A.-based writer and DJ. Read her recently published work and check out her upcoming gigs or listen to the latest Beatique Mix. Follow on Instagram or Bluesky for more updates.
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