Afro-Venezuelan rhythms meet futuristic Latin jazz, raw funk and afrobeat on Raúl Monsalve y los Forajidos’ exhilarating new ‘Bichos’ album for Olindo Records. Raúl Monsalve has dedicated much of his life to understanding and learning traditional Afro-Venezuelan music, and studying under some of its greatest proponents among the percussionists of his home country, whilst at the same time taking as much interest in the sounds emanating from the fearless edges of jazz, rock, African and early electronic music. First in Venezuela, Monsalve played with a number of bands before forming the first incarnation of his Forajidos band, and self-releasing two increasingly popular albums. A move to Paris, via London, led to opportunities to share stages with a vast array of musical giants, not least of all the legendary Nigerian saxophonist Orlando Julius, as well as the Heliocentrics, Venezuelan master percussionist Orlando Poleo and members of Fela Kuti’s Afrika 70. Meanwhile a new line-up of Forajidos toured Europe, celebrating the release of a sought-after 7” on Olindo. Since then, he has recorded and received critical acclaim with Paris-based Venezuelan avant-folk four-piece, Insólito UniVerso, whilst slowly putting together the pieces that would make up this new Forajidos album.