When I first started coming to Panama I’d often hear gringos lament the lack of quality music. “It’s all so primitive,” or “It all sounds the same,” they’d sniff.

Normally I despise this kind of cultural hubris. But they had a point. You can only listen to the accordion for so long before you want to hack your ears off with a rusty machete.

Good news. These days there are several excellent accordion-free musicians plying their trade in Panama. For example, Panamanian Rocker Cienfue, aka Camilo Navarro, has made the rotation at MTV. He’s also garnered several local awards for his music.

Ok, that may not be saying a whole lot. MTV’s unwatchable, and in Panama they give out awards like pedophiles hand out duros. Still, I think Cienfue’s creating some of the most interesting music coming out of Panama today. And I say this, knowing his fine song “Mi Colombiana” is a condemnation of the sex trade, something I celebrate like a 3 day erection. read more»