THE TOUGHERS Eclipse De Soul LP

The Toughers are a Colombian-born all star band, uncovering dimensions of first wave ska, rocksteady, and early reggae, weaving them with soul, dub, and the roots of the Caribbean and South America. The group was formed in 2022 and led by Pablo “Mambe” Araoz, co-founder of the band Alerta Kamarada, and joined by top musicians from genres as diverse as jazz, jardcore, salsa, funk, and reggae. They have backed reggae legends such as Roy Ellis (Mr. Symarip) and Natty Bo of Ska Cubano, shared stages with Jamaican artists like Stranger Cole, Rudy Mills, Susan Cadogan, The Steady 45s, members of The Aggrolites, Inspecter 7 and more. In August 2024, they played the SkaMania festival at The Glass House in Pomona and toured all across California promoting their debut single “Abrakadabra”.

Their debut album “Eclipse de Soul” is a truly introspective record that pulls references from Ska Cubano, The Aggrolites, The Skatalites, Lee “Scratch” Perry and Chicano soul, combined with Colombian genres like son and merecumbe. Tracks range from the scorching ska of “Libre Como El Viento”, the skinhead style of “Bosstellar International”, uptempo Spanglish reggae groover “Land Grab” to the lowrider soul of “I Got Love”. The album includes 2 bonus dubs too!

Available on sunset yellow vinyl, eco-lite wallet CD, and green cassette. All formats are part of the 2026 subscription clubs!

“There’s a red shadowy world where The Toughers hang out. Conga and guiro echo down the backstreet bricks, the voices of woman and man mingle, growl and coo with the bumping bass… anything can happen here; reggae, funk, ballad, dub… the moon is out and the Toughers are howlin.”
– Vic Ruggerio (The Slackers)

“It’s really and truly short-sightedness and a sad miscalculation to think that because ska music began in Jamaica during the 1960s, it is dead! As a matter of fact, ska is growing leaps and bounds in places such as Mexico, Argentina, and Colombia. Case in point, check out the latest release from The Toughers, a six-piece band from Colombia. Their latest release, “Abrakadabra” is going to mush up the place in 2024!”
– Junor Francis (Toaster / History of LA Ska / Skamania)