Paradiso -
Paradiso
Find an artist
A Retro Futuristic Afro-Caribbean Psychedelic Rhythm Machine. A joyous-sounding assault that takes you on a psychedelic journey with a possessed voodoo priest piloting a half-broken 1970’s Caribbean space ship, departing from the hot Venezuelan beach of Camuri Chico in order to land somewhere on the African continent along the borders between Angola and the Congo.
Conjunto Papa Upa is, first and foremost, the name of a grinding, pulsating, Amsterdam-based psychedelic dance band, which soars through the traditions of Latin music culture, incorporating Salsa, Afro-Latin and Caribbean rhythms. “Papa Upa” is also both a tune by the Cuban music legend and mambo innovator Arsenio Rodríguez and the name of a Venezuelan chewing gum that rotted kid’s teeth in previous decades.
The band has built a reputation for being the only band in Europe playing authentic afro caribbean rhythms, with meticulous precision and musicality, while mixing them with the most improbable genres, always in the pursuit of original and exciting dancefloor material. Angolan Semba, Puerto Rican Plena, Brazilian Carimbó, Salsa, Zouk, Calypso, Psych rock, Disco, House, Techno, Electro, Free Jazz… (to name just a few) collide and reemerge in new forms, sometimes impossible to describe, and always impossible not to dance to.
The unbelievable soundtrack of a piña colada-infused bad (?) trip, where you have the time of your life dancing to a band that sounds like an impossible combination of Los Mirlos, Wganda Kenya, Kassav, Kraftwerk, and The Art Ensemble of Chicago.
The end result is an irresistibly danceable meld that manages to be vintage and futuristic, both scary and fun at the same time.
Their second album, Fruta Madura, was released in July 2024 on Music With Soul Records. What the experts are saying:
“Alex (Figueira) dove into this work with a brutal cohesion between lyrics and synths. Timbre poetry, sound poetry (you name it). And that, superimposed on his always impeccable percussive base, confirms the title of “avant-garde visionary of our beautiful Latin music”.” – Eblis Alvarez (Meridian Brothers)
“Papa Upa’s infectious quirkiness is a balm against boredom. A mature album, but without an expiration date”. – Gladys Palmera
“straight out of a Hollywood realisation of a Casablancan Latin club!” – Songlines Magazine
“a lovely combination of sharp-witted songwriting and adeptly-produced, bombastic tropical music.” – Bandcamp Daily
“‘Fruta Madura’ is a step up indeed for Alex Figueira & Co. His fruta has clearly matured with the band members combined instrumental mastery allowing him to elevate his songwriting and vocal chops into a new league. Probably not for the faint-hearted but if you want to hear ‘tropical’ music that burns, then this is for you. 9.5/10.” – Truthandliesmusic.com
