Just heard the new mix from Cut Chemist, B-side is full of Ethiopian samples, from Girma Beyene, Mulatu Astatke, Mahmoud Ahmed and more towards the end, sharing here a little less than half of the track 2, bad quality… Get it, this stuff is great!.
Some more info: http://somuchsilence.com/?p=3758
Ahmed Digfeer is one of many amazing Somali Artists. Somali music has seemed to be ignored, comparing it to neighboring contries. The country with decades of wars and different conflicts has in fact an impressive musical repertoire from the 60s and 70s. Maybe the fame of the Rap artist K’Naan will change some of that, using samples from Ethiopian and Somali music, the past is coming closer. Artists like Ahmed Mooge, Samatar, Khadra, Cabdi Tahliil and others that I still didn’t get to know, deserves more attention. Waiting for the perfect reissue… Now, enjoy Ahmed Digfeer - Hadagan Nimcooy!
This tune is one of many great tunes on this tape, have kind of fell in love with this sound. I think this is his first release, after this tape he started releasing more religious Muslim cassettes - Manzuma, witch are also great. This usage of Oud and Tamtam started first heavily in Ethiopia when the communist Mengistu H.Mariam came to power. The Oromo people took the style of the surrounding countries Somalia and Sudan, and made it their own. I wish I knew more Oromo language, this song is anyway called Ajaba Bontuu Oromo. Enjoy!
Alemayehu Eshete was a master of many styles, from swing & soul to tezeta & ambasel (ethiopian genres). His performances was said to be explosiv, and different from any other singers of the 60s 70s era. This resulted in he being nicknamed “the black Elvis” and “Africas James Brown”. Listening to his solo-releases Ethiopiques Vol.09 & 22 might make you understand why. He was my first favorite after getting to know the Ethiopiques series. Vol.09 is for sale in the shop.
This song is from his first cassette album. A ballad, accompanied with piano, sweet voice, sweet words. Enjoy!
I have finally started digitizing cassettes, there is so much amazing stuff of witch you can’t find otherwise. I do now manage to enjoy the format after more than 15 years of not listening to a single song. It’s of course sad that all this material doesn’t come in preferable quality, but it is something you might get used to again. After all it’s the music I’m looking for.
Lalibela Kinet was a group, a choir, the best musicians of the province Wollo, the origin of music styles like Anchi woye, Bati and Ambasel. They gave out three cassettes in the 80s (1975 on the cover is ethiopian calender), and one of them was featuring Maritu Legesse, the Queen of Bati. This is pure traditional music. Enjoy!
This song blew me into imagining the amazing orchestra era of Ethiopia. Dramatic and hypnotic, this wedding-song with the title ‘Kelemwa’, ‘Her color’, is one of my favorites. Osman Sayem aka. EthioJazz in blogsphere has written some stuff on her at Bernos, check it out http://www.bernos.org/blog/2007/04/03/oldies-but-goddies-iii/ Enjoy!
Wanted to share a Tiberih Tesfahuney clip and while I was searching for information on her I found a really nice blog, surprised I didn’t see it before. It is full of 7” vinyl presentations along with proper background stories and a listening opportunity, something to look up to. Check it out! http://radiodiffusion.wordpress.com/
Tiberih has two songs on the Ethiopiques vol 5, a compliation of Tigray(north-ethiopia) and Eritrean music. This song is called Senit Lemlem and is again taken from JBs collection. Enjoy!
Tamrat Molla was from 1966 an active singer with the Army Band. His strong voice had similarities to the much loved Telahun Gessesse, but he never reached the same popularity. The Venus Band witch is backing him has similar members as the later Walias Band, like Hailu Mergia on keys. The dramatic/mystic sound, followed by clapping is often a typical amhara wedding style. This song ‘Aswa gen yellechem’ = ‘But she’s not here’ was released 1975. Info is taken from Ethiopiques Vol.24, where you’ll find two other songs by Tamrat Molla, witch you’ll also find in Mitmitta Musika bet. Thanks to JB for letting me share these 7” clips.
Tsehaytu Beraki, the sun of Eritrea, is dear to many Eritreans. Terp Records did a new production with her, a double cd. An amazing collection of older and newer songs. She is also to be found on Ethiopiques vol 5 with four songs, a great collection of northern Ethiopian music from the 70s. Enjoy this 7” from early 70s witch is also to be found re-recorded on Terp’s release. Thanks JB!
Munaye Menberu was released on Tesfa Records, one of the last newcomers for vinyl distribution before its end. Gubelye is a traditional done by most of the known Ethiopian artists. Haven’t been able to find any info on arrangers or performers and not even a full sentence about her, only that she was a dramatic stage artist. So you out there, please inform me if you know anything about this woman! Check the other side of this 7” at http://www.addistunes.com/Munaye_Menberu/ The opening of this Gubelye was used on Oh No’s Ethiopium (Stones Throw) a collection of breaks and samples taken from ethiopian music to become something completly different. Thanks again to JB. Enjoy!
Eritrean Osman Abdulrahim was a very popular diverse artist in 60s-70s. This song is his own arrangement, accompanied by The Jaguars. He also worked with the renowned producer, arranger and performer Tewelda Redda, witch is to be found with some tunes on Ethiopiques Vol.5. The song is converted from vinyl, from Jonathan Banes collection.
