This is a trio of albums by Clan Caimán, an instrumental project from Argentina started in 2016 by composer and bandleader Emilio Haro. The records center around his home built electric Kalimba in session with guitar, bass, drums, and steel guitar. There are 2018s self titled, 2021s Asoma and 2024s Pica-Pau. All three are fantastic records.

The sound is modern electric folk from an imagined time and place. It’s hypnotic and at times ambient without ever losing my attention. There’s thoughtful experimentation and stylish, almost rocking moments and they’re often side by side over the same steady rhythms. There’s definitely undertones of blues, jazz and modern composition across all three records.

The music is as friendly to the ears as any cumbia, rock, or highlife you’ll find today and possess a similar penchant for weaving in hints of psychedelia. However there’s no particular folk tradition this evolved from, it simply possesses its own organic and timeless sound.

I’ve enjoyed all three of these records immensely. Fans of any delicate, electric folk-rock or any quasi-psychedelic traditional music from distant lands have a lot to love here. The first record is linked below, you can find all three out on the always lovely EM Records (Japan.)