With new LP 'Ruido Tovar,' Camilo Lara wants to take cumbias into the future

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Set us as preferred Camilo Lara, the former record label executive turned groove master, describes it as “the collision of two trains at full speed.” After what took years of convincing, Lara — who makes music under the moniker Mexican Institute of Sound — finally recorded a collaborative album with a longtime friend: Colombia’s Eblis Álvarez, leader of the neo-tropical outfit Meridian Brothers.Released in May and titled “Ruido Tovar,” a nod to Mexico’s cumbia icon Rigo Tovar, the record explores — with religious fervor and a wicked sense of humor — the transformation of late ‘70s to early ‘80s cumbia into a loopy, occasionally psychedelic rhythm machine.The project sums up the fixation of both Mexican Institute of Sound and Meridian Brothers with analogue archaeology.The duo studied dusty LPs from Mexico and Colombia and employed a panoply of vintage keyboards to re-create the ghostly sounds of a Latin America that ceased to exist decades ago.

Beck even dropped in for a couple of tracks, including the anthemic “Cumbia Beckiana.” Lara and Álvarez will present the album live on Wednesday at the Regent.The show will include sets by both M.I.S.

and Meridian, with the bands coming together to perform “Ruido Tovar.”From his recording studio in Mexico City, Lara, 50, spoke to De Los about getting an unexpected call from Beck years ago, as well as his recent move to L.A.and the bittersweet streak of Mexican existentialism that informs everything he does.This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

I remember listening to your debut album, “Méjico Máxico,” when it came out 20 years ago.The track “Mirando a Las Muchachas” signaled a before-and-after moment for me.

I still love its blend of retro innocence and joyful futurism.That song is a clear illustration of the clumsi...