As the tide of south-of-the-border sounds continues to rise in these former Mexican territories, the Cumbia Movement should capitalize. Debuting March 2023, the homegrown conglomerate of titular genre veterans rings a bell of countless decades rather than mere years. Consider ’em ATX’s dark horse cumbia kings. Los Desechos, meanwhile, electrify the format’s new vanguard with equally experienced purveyors. Also fronting local knockouts El Combo Oscuro, John Dell led the LDs to an all-time template high in July’s full-length bow Cumbias Levantamuertos. And raise the dead they will at local Latin incubator C-Boy’s, which already launched homegrown Latin HOF bait including Money Chicha and Superfónicos. – Raoul Hernandez
