v.a. - Ernesto Chahoud presents TAITU - Soul-fuelled Stompers from 1960s-1970s Ethiopia [2018] [ethiopia]

       Ernesto Chahoud’s Taitu is a collection of soul-fuelled stompers straight from the dancefloors of 1970s Addis Ababa. A breathless journey through the unique Ethio sound that bands were forging at the time, the 24-track compilation is the result of the Lebanese DJ and crate digger’s decade long love affair with the ‘golden age’ of Ethiopian music.

Tilahun Gessesse - Aykedashim Libe

        Among the musical gems featured are 7″s by some of the heavyweights of the scene including Mulatu Astatke and Alemayehu Eshete, the vocalist dubbed the ‘Ethiopian Elvis’, alongside tracks by more obscure artists such as Merawi Yohannis and Birkineh Wurga.

           For Taitu, Chahoud has selected 24 of his essential Ethio-Soul 7″s, that never leave his DJ box, and together they capture this opportune moment in Ethiopian music history that saw bands experiment with an armful of influences: gliding through R&B, rock & roll, jazz, funk, soul and boogaloo. What came out was a distinctly Ethiopian interpretation: pentatonic scales, horn-driven melodies and soul-shattering vocals sung in Amharic.

           The songs are difficult to box in to one genre but they share a simplicity and rawness, added to by their lo-fi quality – with many recordings made in rudimentary studios with only a couple of mics for the entire band.

         From the R&B stomper ‘Honey Baby’ by Alemayehu Eshete to Astatke’s swaggering ethnic-jazz instrumental ‘Emnete’ and the bluesy melancholic vocals of Hirut Bekele on ‘Ewnetegna Feker’, ‘Taitu’ is a window in on the exciting records being made in Ethiopia in the 1970s.

Menelik Wossenatchew - 01 - Fikratchin (3:05)

Mulatu Astatke - 02 - Emnete (3:28)

Tèshomè Meteku - 03 - Hasabe (4:00)

Birkineh Wurga - 04 - Alkedashim (3:16)

Selomon Shibeshi - 05 - Endiet Zenegashiw (4:06)

Alemayehu Eshete - 06 - Chiro Adarie Negne (4:27)

Hirut Bekele - 07 - Ewnetegna Feker (3:15)

Bezunesh Bekele - 08 - Felagote (2:56)

Alemayehu Eshete - 09 - Mekeyershene Salawke (1:48)

Tilahun Gessesse - 10 - Aykedashim Libe (4:57)

Merawi Yohannis - 11 - Teleyeshign (2:27)

Alemayehu Eshete, Hirut Bekele, Hirut Bekele & Alemayehu Eshete - 12 - Temelese (3:19)

Alemayehu Eshete - 13 - Honey Baby (2:37)

Seifu Yohannes - 14 - Ebo Lala (3:34)

Bezunesh Bekele - 15 - Aha Gedawo (3:52)

Alemayehu Borobor - 16 - Yeshebelewa (3:35)

Seifu Yohannes - 17 - Mela Mela (4:09)

Tilahun Gessesse - 18 - Sigibgib Joroye (3:28)

Alemayehu Eshete - 19 - Gizew Honeshyna (2:39)

Bahta G. Hiwot - 20 - Tessassategn Eko (4:02)

Gétatchèw Kassa - 21 - Fikrishin Eshaleyu (3:22)

Hirut Bekele - 22 - Almokerkum Nebere (3:21)

Muluken Melesse - 23 - Alagegnhwatem (4:07)

Ménélik Wossenachew - 24 - Tezeta (4:28)

Tamrat Molla - 25 - Ene Yewodedquat (4:14)

The Music of Ethiopia - [1967] - Azmari Music of the Amharas (Anthology AST 6000, recorded by Ashenafi Kebede (LP)) [ethiopia]

Another extraordinary blog dedicated to world music sound I just found is :

MusicRepublic - World Traditional Music from LPs and Cassettes

Album and text are originally posted >>> HERE

This anthology showcases the music of the Azmari bards, or minstrels, from the Amhara Region in Northeastern Ethiopia. Most Amharas, aka as Abyssinians, are Christians, members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church founded in the 4th century. 

Melaku Gelaw - Misgana (Praise)

The gorgeous program featured here includes Melaku Gelaw playing solo washint wooden flute (A1, A4) and solo krar lyre (A2); and singing and playing krar (B1); Wolde Marriam singing and playing krar (A3); the powerful and inspired interplay between Asegedech Mekonnen’s spellbinding singing and Getamesay Abebe’s masinko, or masenqo, single-stringed bowed lute (A5, A6, B2, B3); and Getamesay Abebe singing and playing masinko (B4).

Melaku Gelaw (medium sized washint) - A1 - Misgana (Praise) (1:25)

Melaku Gelaw (krar) - A2 - YefiKir KeTaima (2:58)

Wolde Marriam (vocal and krar) - A3 - Satina Baburay (Heat-Driven Train of Mine) (3:07)

Melaku Gelaw (long washint) - A4 - Fanno (1:48)

M. Asegedech (vocal) / A. Getamesay (masinko) - A5 - Shilela (4:59)

M. Asegedech (vocal) / A. Getamesay (masinko) - A6 - Ambasel (4:57)

Melaku Gelaw (vocal and krar) - B1 - Shemonmuanaye (My Charming One) (2:51)

Asegedech Mekonnen (vocal) / A. Getamesay (masinko) - B2 - Tizita (5:04)

Asegedech Mekonnen (vocal) / A. Getamesay (masinko) - B3 - Bafi (5:14)

A. Getamesay (vocal and masinko) - B4 - Medina Zelesegna (5:44)

                             FULL BOOKLET INCLUDED   

Smizz Mayle - Manew Esu [2018] [ethiopia]

Smizz Mayle - Manew Esu

Smizz Mayle - 01 - Manew Sew (4:01)

Smizz Mayle - 02 - Shelemechigne (4:30)

Smizz Mayle - 03 - Ahun (4:31)

Smizz Mayle - 04 - Semaw Weree (3:07)

Smizz Mayle - 05 - Wesdeshiwal (3:28)

Smizz Mayle - 06 - Konjiye (3:45)

Smizz Mayle - 07 - Hugni Wuste (3:37)

Smizz Mayle - 08 - Banchi Yamral (5:01)

Smizz Mayle - 09 - Atawikewim (4:29)

Smizz Mayle - 10 - Wastina (4:15)

Smizz Mayle - 11 - Bichayen Silefa (4:15)

Smizz Mayle - 12 - Endih New Mamar (4:38)

Smizz Mayle - 13 - Merchaye (4:33)

Smizz Mayle - 14 - Sitawkibet (4:42)

Smizz Mayle - 15 - Anchin Bicha (3:39)

Smizz Mayle - 16 - Semaw Weree (4:03)

Tadesse Alemu - missing/unknown album [ethiopia]

Tadesse Alemu (Amharic: ታደሠ ዓለሙ) was an Ethiopian singer from Wollega who sang traditional Ethiopian songs, sometimes Christian-based, in an upbeat pop-music style with the modern-day electronic instrumentation that is characteristic of today's Ethiopian popular music. His sound, comprised primarily of traditional songs, made liberal use of electronic instrumentation.

Tadesse Alemu - Arada

Active since 1997, nothing was known about his origins. However, an interview with Alemu's wife on Voice of Ethiopia radio during fall 2007 confirmed that he had become sick and died that July in Addis Ababa of a short disease, which resulted from an infection that was caused by a stabbing wound from several years previously that had not healed properly, just before he was set to leave the country on a concert tour.

Tadesse Alemu - Partial discography:

Ethiopian Wedding Songs (1997)

Erikum (1998 or 1999)

Mahider Zema (2000)

Mishamisho (2001)

Wedding Songs (2003)

Tadesse Alemu ታደሰ ዓለሙ - 01 - የአውዳመት ቀን (5:20)

Tadesse Alemu ታደሰ ዓለሙ - 02 - ነይ ደማ (5:58)

Tadesse Alemu ታደሰ ዓለሙ - 03 - እሪኩም (6:34)

Tadesse Alemu ታደሰ ዓለሙ - 04 - ተይማነሽ (6:04)

Tadesse Alemu ታደሰ ዓለሙ - 05 - አካል ገላ (5:55)

Tadesse Alemu ታደሰ ዓለሙ - 06 - መላ ነው (6:19)

Tadesse Alemu ታደሰ ዓለሙ - 07 - አያማሩ ገላ (8:46)

Tadesse Alemu ታደሰ ዓለሙ - 08 - ወይ አራዳ (7:11)

Tadesse Alemu ታደሰ ዓለሙ - 09 - አማሌሌ (7:11)

   Amharic to latin transliteration needed   

Teddy Yo & Gentle Man - Arada, Vol. 2 [2018] [ethiopia]

Teddy Yo & Gentleman ft King Kong & Yemaryam - Africa

Teddy Yo & Gentle Man - 01 - Arada (feat. Abraham Shalaye) (0:56)

Teddy Yo & Gentle Man - 02 - Wa (feat. Get Anley) (3:42)

Teddy Yo & Gentle Man - 03 - Africa (feat. King Kong & Yemaryam) (3:18)

Teddy Yo & Gentle Man - 04 - Amalay (3:45)

Teddy Yo & Gentle Man - 05 - Alew Belegn (feat. Lij Eyasu) (3:44)

Teddy Yo & Gentle Man - 06 - Lo'o Lo'o (3:18)

Teddy Yo & Gentle Man - 07 - Werea (feat. Ziggy Zagga) (3:08)

Teddy Yo & Gentle Man - 08 - Chisu (feat. Lij Eyasu) (3:07)

Teddy Yo & Gentle Man - 09 - Esregna (3:13)

Teddy Yo & Gentle Man - 10 - Ketsehay Betach (feat. Jo Lax & Bitanya) (4:01)

Teddy Yo & Gentle Man - 11 - Endezi Endeza (3:06)

Teddy Yo & Gentle Man - 12 - Habesha Hip Hop (feat. Lij Eyasu, Alex & J Matik) (4:27)

Teddy Yo & Gentle Man - 13 - Yene Nesh (4:18)

Teddy Yo & Gentle Man - 14 - Banchiw (4:17)

Teddy Yo & Gentle Man - 15 - Andegna (feat. Jo Lax, Godana & Yemaryam) (3:41)

Teddy Yo & Gentle Man - 16 - Medhanit (feat. Abraham Shalaye) (2:14)

Yeshimebet Dubale and Fasil Demoz - 2 Famous Singers [ethiopia]

Two outstanding singers with their favorite songs.  

The music of Gondar, Wollo, Gojjam, North Shewa.

The Amharic Music of the Amhara Region

Fasil Demoz and Yeshimebet Dubale - Enchewawet

Yeshimebet Dubale and Fasil Demoz - 01 - Yeshiye (አዎ ሰላም) (6:19)

Yeshimebet Dubale የሺመቤት ዱባለ - 02 - Zemezemew (የሺመቤት ዱባለ) (6:04)

Fasil Demoz ፋሲል ደሞዝ - 03 - Lomi Nat (ፋሲል ደሞዝ) (5:38)

Yeshimebet Dubale and Fasil Demoz - 04 - Enchewawet (ኤንቹዋውት) (6:33)

Fasil Demoz ፋሲል ደሞዝ - 05 - Afi (አህ) (6:11)

Yeshimebet Dubale የሺመቤት ዱባለ - 06 - Fikri Mecheresha (ፍቅር መጨረሻ) (5:03)

Fasil Demoz ፋሲል ደሞዝ - 07 - Tebelahu (ተበላሁ) (5:55)

Yeshimebet Dubale የሺመቤት ዱባለ - 08 - Selam Selam (ሰላም ሰላም) (6:07)

Fasil Demoz ፋሲል ደሞዝ - 09 - Anchi sew (አንቺ ሰው) (6:06)

Yeshimebet Dubale የሺመቤት ዱባለ - 10 - Izezibachewi (እዘዝባቸው) (6:59)

Jano Band - Lerasih New [2018] [ethiopia]

Jano Band transcend the Rock genre by infusing traditional Ethiopian melodies and percussions, adding instruments of masinko, krar, and the washint, and bringing you to your feet with unforgettable languages of love and celebration.

Jano Band became the first Ethiopian band to feature on Coke Studio Africa when they collaborated with South African singer Shekhinah in Nairobi, Kenya, last year.

The band – which consists of two female vocalists, two male lead vocalists and six musicians on bass, guitars, keyboards and drums – was brought together by Addis Gessesse in 2011.

Since the release of "Ertale" in 2012 (also posted HERE), the group has collaborated and worked with American producer Bill Laswell who helped the group sparkle on the international arena.

Jano Band - Darigne

In September 2017, news broke that the band was on the verge of a breakup. The band disputed the reports through its current manager Sammy Tefera who went on to announce that the band would be launching its second album in early 2018.

Music In Africa caught up with one of the band’s lead vocalists, Dibekulu Tafesse, to talk about their 16-track album, Lerasih New, which was released on 1 February 2018.

MUSIC IN AFRICA: What was the inspiration behind Lerasih New?  

DIBEKULU TAFESSE: We named the album Lerasih New because it is a commonly used word which translates to 'For Yourself'. Our songs carry different themes that our fans relate to and in this album we choose to urge our fans to be conscious of their actions. As human beings we ocassionally do things without thinking about the consequences. So in this album we are pushing for self-awareness because no one should intentionally hurt themselves or ruin their lives simply because they made the wrong choice.

MUSIC IN AFRICA: Was the album produced in Ethiopia?

DIBEKULU TAFESSE: The assembling of the music, which is normally the first stage of recording, was done in Ethiopia but the engineering process was done in Italy at the Blumusica studio in Turin, and the final mastering was done at Lurssen Mastering Studio in Los Angeles, Califonia.

Working with good recording studios and producers has set us apart from other Ethiopian artists since the music that we produce is of high quality. On this project we worked with producer Kistet.

(brief interview is taken from site Music in Africa and it's posted HERE)

Jano Band - 01 - Leba (4:26)

Jano Band - 02 - Hadekiya (3:53)

Jano Band - 03 - Shegiye (4:09)

Jano Band - 04 - Engida (5:15)

Jano Band - 05 - Zew Zew (3:51)

Jano Band - 06 - Wey Zendro (3:24)

Jano Band - 07 - Gudie Fela (3:49)

Jano Band - 08 - Keteraraw Mado (6:22)

Jano Band - 09 - Hamza (3:48)

Jano Band - 10 - Tiz Alegn (5:03)

Jano Band - 11 - Hager Alegn (4:59)

Jano Band - 12 - Lib Sireta (5:21)

Jano Band - 13 - Kal (4:23)

Jano Band - 14 - Adagn (5:15)

Jano Band - 15 - Kenat Wediya (4:54)

Jano Band - 16 - Darign (4:28)

Akalé Wubé - Ethiopian Groove Greatest Hits [CDR, 2009 / self-released] [FLAC]

                          R   E   U   P   L   O   A   D   

                       Akalé Wubé is an Ethio-groove band from Paris

       It is an improbable story: one that reunites, a group of young Parisians with the Swingin' Addis sounds of the seventies. In October 2008, five musicians got together on a wild project: to delve into the repertoire of the Ethiopian golden age, as defined by the producer Francis Falceto, to whom we owe the series of reissues “Ethiopiques”. “The idea was to transcribe songs from this period and rearrange them to the sound of our times. First off, it eliminated the need to write songs that risked falling into ethio-jazz clichés. 

       The aim was not to bring about some artistic revolution through our work but simply to give and take pleasure by performing this music!” Through this retro-futuristic alchemy, the Akalé Wubé quintet was born: a curious name borrowed from a song by the great saxophonist Getatchew Mekurya, a bit of an old-fashioned expression which can by translated as “my beautiful” in Amharic, a poetic metaphor which also means “beauty of the soul”.

  “Since our very first concert in December 2008 we were surprised by the audience’s enthusiasm.” Since then, Akalé Wubé have played more than forty concerts, including a residency at the Lavoir Moderne Parisien and a tour around Morocco. A year later, they were finally ready to record their debut album. It took them four live sessions in the famous “Cold Rooms” on the bank of the river Seine, in order to capture the warmth and fervor of an acoustic and organic sound. 

      The result is a retro sound which resounds perfectly with the contemporary aesthetic of a generation of musicians that juggle genres around. Funk, reggae, jazz, tango... “All of this is found in the vocabulary and aesthetic of the ethiopian productions of the sixties and seventies. It is a cross-bred style of music - so much so, that even by sticking to the repertoire, it can be taken in different directions...” A mix of stripped-down funk soul and smart pop, of garage rock and vintage jazz, this spatiotemporal collision offers them the ideal platform to establish a solid base in 2010. The objective: transcend all genres and swing the future in the most quirky of ways. This is the attracting force of their record: a UFO which targets above all to deliver good vibes at any tempo, and move you from head to toe.

Akalé Wubé - Ayalqem tedengo (remixed version)

Akalé Wubé - 01 - Yèkatit (5:13)

Akalé Wubé - 02 - Ayalqem tedengo (5:59)

Akalé Wubé - 03 - Muziqawi silt (3:22)

Akalé Wubé - 04 - Ragalé (5:09)

Akalé Wubé - 05 - Kulunmanqueleshi (3:36)

Akalé Wubé - 06 - Yèkermè sew (3:17)

Akalé Wubé - 07 - Tezatayé antchi lidj (5:07)

Akalé Wubé are :

Paul Bouclier : trumpet, percussions 

Etienne de la Sayette : saxs, flutes, organ 

Loïc Réchard : guitar 

Oliver James Degabriele : bass 

David Georgelet : drums 

Pierre Dachery : sound

Express Band - Tiwiwik [2008] [ehiopia]

  

                                    

  R   E   U   P   L   O   A   D  
NEW, BETTER RIP 

 


      In a dramatic departure from the Ethiopian music of the 1980s and 90s, the daring Express Band is credited with changing the sound of Ethiopian music. Drawing on their extensive experience with some of the most renowned bands in Ethiopia, these four innovative musicians have pioneered their own unique sound. As a result, they are currently the #1 band in Ethiopia. Introduction is the bands debut album. 

Express Band - Interview with the Band Founders - Part 1

      The Express Band has toured extensively and performed with many legendary singers, including Ephrem Tamiru and Jamaican singer, Tony Rebel. Talented musicians, composers and lyricists, they were instrumental in the arrangement of Dawit Mellesses Lottery. AIT Records is excited to be working with these creative musicians as we help introduce their unique sound to listeners worldwide, and we look forward to producing future albums with the Express Band.

       Founded in 1994 with three musicians - Dereje Tefera (bass), Kibret Zekiwos (guitar) and Feleke Hailu (keyboards and saxophone) - the daring Express Band is credited with changing the landscape of Ethiopian music. Performing in clubs throughout Addis Ababa, the Express Band has been joined onstage by the likes of Dawit Mellesse, Theodros "Afro" Kassahun, Shewandagn Hailu, Zeritu Kebede, Tigist Bekele and Abdu Kiar, and they have performed on recordings by a number of Ethiopia 's leading singers. Drawing on these experiences, they have pioneered their own unique sound and remain one of the busiest and most sought-after bands in Ethiopia .

Express Band - 01 - Set Alamnim (3:32)
Express Band - 02 - Sira (4:27)
Express Band - 03 - Chinkim Mekeraye (6:26)
Express Band - 04 - Ye-Hiywote Hiywet (5:53)
Express Band - 05 - Hallo Hallo (4:56)
Express Band - 06 - Ye-Har Shererit (5:00)
Express Band - 07 - Innate Nesh (4:29)
Express Band - 08 - Alchalkum (6:20)
Express Band - 09 - Libesh Kabashin (4:16)
Express Band - 10 - Mignote (4:08)
Express Band - 11 - Kurtun Nigerign (4:25)
Express Band - 12 - Ye-Fikir Migib (4:15)

Band members: 

Dereje Tefera - bass instrument

Elias Bekele - drums

Feleke Hailu - clarinet, saxophone, keyboards

Kibret Zekewos - guitar

Additional personnel: 

Abegasu Kibrework Shiota - keyboards

Urbano Sanchez Jr. - percussions

Aselefech Ashine & Getenesh Kebret - Aselefech Ashine & Getenesh Kebret [1976] [ethiopia]

originally posted here on Lola Vandaag blog

   for Sergej and others who asks about this release - enjoy!   

Asselefech Ashine & Getenesh Kebret - Metche New

Aselefech Ashine & Getenesh Kebret - 01 - Ene Yalant Feker (3:00)
Aselefech Ashine & Getenesh Kebret - 02 - Meche Neow (3:25)
Aselefech Ashine & Getenesh Kebret - 03 - Kenawtte (2:40)
Aselefech Ashine & Getenesh Kebret - 04 - Anlak Abet Abet (4:31)
Aselefech Ashine & Getenesh Kebret - 05 - Amerewal Shegenuo (3:18)
Aselefech Ashine & Getenesh Kebret - 06 - Lametew (3:31)
Aselefech Ashine & Getenesh Kebret - 07 - Wegenne (5:58)
Aselefech Ashine & Getenesh Kebret - 08 - Yenafaktiwou Tersseh (3:42)
Aselefech Ashine & Getenesh Kebret - 09 - Ayinouma (4:47)
Aselefech Ashine & Getenesh Kebret - 10 - Jegenaw Belaye (5:51)