Using Predator-like drones, private military contractors remotely defend water reserves in Mexico from drought stricken locals to a soundtrack by Nacional Records. This all-too-possible near future set to a nasty beat is the vision of Sleep Dealer, a Spanish language science fiction film written and directed by Alex Rivera.

It premiered in NYC last April, which makes it ancient in internet time, but we had to post something about it. The thoughtfulness of Rivera, who resides in New York and first filmed the Sixth Section documentary for PBS, charts the genre into unlikely territory. By addressing current political and environmental issues, he grounds it in reality. And he avoids diving into fantasy by exploring technology that seems probable in the near future and in need of serious discussion. All this brings the movie closer to social commentary than mere entertainment.

As for the soundtrack, it features a number of good songs that have since been released for free in one form or another. Bomba Estereo’s “Raza” made its psychedelic Cumbia debut here. It’s since been released as an MPFree over at NYRemezcla (hastily compiled English translation after the jump). The album also included the Latin dub stylings of Fidel Nadal’s “Puerta De Oro (Con Pablo Lescano)”. That was more recently part of the free Nacional Records Sampler 2009. Nortec Collective’s “Tijuana Sound Machine” and “Discoteca Nacional” were also on the soundtrack.

Race (Raza) - Bomba Estereo (lyrics translated to English)

Race…

If you ask yourself where it came from
If half from the sea
If half from the river
I like singing to my friends
Sing to the wind, to the heat and the cold
To reach you I would love to
(My) political stance: undefined
(My) relationship status: stable and single
(My) perfect drink: cold beer, hey!

And my speech is not very easy and it’s not written down
But whoever wants to know, I’ll explain it
I multiply with the percussion
I ring and ring that’s why I criticize you
I’m not a fan of protest
However, I respect your project
It’s just that kind of analysis which sometimes stinks
That you complain and don’t do anything is what bugs me

And that’s the way my race is
My folklore
And this is the cumbia that I sing to you
And that’s the way my race is
My folklore
From deep within the heart
And that’s the way my race is
My folklore
And this is the cumbia that I sing to you
And that’s the way my race is
My folklore

I was not born a rasta, no
And I’ll say that upfront
But I grew up in the sea
Very close to the people
With the sun strong at 2:20
When the sweat gets hot
And sometimes I complain about the president
About dumb women, about the smart ones
I don’t want to sing to those who are absent
I want to sing to those who are present

I don’t have a valid visa or passport
But I want my music to reach other continents
Those who speak English
Those who don’t understand it
If I can’t travel let the music try to
Hot, upfront, so that it explodes
Yes! This music is for intelligent people For Bogota and for Baranquilla
I like cumbia because it is simple listennn!
Because it’s simple listennn!
Because it’s simple listennn!

And that’s the way my race is
My folklore
And this is the cumbia that I sing to you
And that’s the way my race is
My folklore
From deep within the heart
And that’s the way my race is
My folklore
And this is the cumbia that I sing to you
And that’s the way my race is
My folklore
My folklore
My folklore
My folklore
My folklore
My folklore
And this is the cumbia that I sing to you
That’s the way my race is
That’s the way my folklore is
(My race) And this is the cumbia that I sing to you
And this is the music that I sing

So you like Rock
I like Santa Marta’s, yeah!
Oh, for my neighborhood

Listen, man
This is the house
This is the house
When you want to come on by

And that’s the way my race is
And that’s the way my race is
And that’s the way my race is
And that’s the way my race is

(Thanks to Ricardo for transcribing this.)

Eye candy. Starring a surreal sepia New York and a burning piano. By Jeff Desom. (via Caslon Projects)

(Via Gradient Magazine)