Five years after first unearthing the psychedelic treasures of the Peruvian Amazon, Analog Africa has announced a triumphant return to Iquitos. ‘Galaxia Tropical’, the second volume dedicated to the legendary Ranil y Su Conjunto Tropical, arrives on February 6th, with the infectious first single “Gitanita” streaming now.
This compilation is more than just a follow-up; it is a final tribute to a musical titan. Label founder Samy Ben Redjeb recounts a serendipitous 2019 trip where a taxi driver—upon hearing Ben Redjeb was looking for the singer—drove him straight to Ranil’s door in the frenetic Belén market. The two struck up an immediate friendship, spending a month curating this collection.
Tragically, the planned reunion and launch party never happened. Ranil passed away in April 2020 at the onset of the global pandemic, silencing a voice that had defined the neighbourhood for decades.
Born Jorge Raúl Llerena Vásquez, Ranil was a true pioneer. Rejecting the restrictive offers of Lima’s commercial music industry, he built his own empire, Producciones Llerena—an unheard-of feat in that part of the Amazon. With a rotating cast of brilliant musicians, he crafted a sound locals affectionately called “llullampeo”—imaginative, unrestrained, and wildly rhythmic.
Galaxia Tropical features 14 tracks that showcase this fearless output, blending cumbia, psychedelic guitar grooves, and the distinct, humid energy of the jungle. From rural teacher to label boss to radio pioneer and politician, Ranil was a larger-than-life figure. While his label was often chaotic—marked by mismatched covers and missing titles—the music remains pristine. This release ensures that while the man is gone, the “Galaxia” he created keeps spinning.
Bandcamp pre-order link:https://analogafrica.bandcamp.com/album/galaxia-tropical
Pre-Save: https://bfan.link/ranil-y-su-conjunto-tropical-galaxia-tropical-analog-africa-no-43