Tilahun Gessesse & Walias Band - Tilahun Gessesse with the Walias Band [1970 ?]

originally posted here : Awesome Tapes From Africa

Very limited edition LP with cool, silk-screened covers. 

           The liner notes provided helpful biographical information about this titan of Ethiopian music (Ethiopiques Vol. 17 is 100% Gessesse), but very little about the particular music on this record.

       I would date these recordings to the early 70s, maybe late 60s, judging by the groovy-heavy, almost proto-disco vibe of the songs and analog sound of the recordings. The basic MO here is: set up a tight, funky vamp then let Gessesse cut loose over the top. 

        Modern ears will delight at the production values which place the band in a swirl of reverb and give Gessesse's in-the-red vocals a heavy coat of gritty slap-back. The way everything sounds makes it easy to imagine hearing these songs performed at 3am in sweltering Ethiopian heat. Very nice LP, anyone with an interest in Ethiopian music will find a lot to like here, but the general funkiness (great basslines!) and upbeat rhythm of the songs make it pretty widely accessible.

Side A

1. Ye Minjar Lij (The girl from Minjar)

2. Keleleh Yelehem (You ain't got it if you don't got it)

3. Ere Fikir BeHig (In the name of Love)

4. Ye Tate Kelebet (The ring on my finger)

5. Tey Atabesachign (Please don't make me suffer)

Side B.

1. Endezih Hone Ende (Is this how it is)

2. Beterswa Shegnechign (She abandoned me with a smile)

3. Ewnetegna Fikir (True Love)

4. Katu Zemed Yelem (No one befriends the broke)

5. Hiwet Kanchi Aybeltem (Life is not more precious than you)

6. Bonus instrumental track