Dereb Desalegn - Dereb The Ambassador [2010]

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                       Dereb The Ambassador (Dereb Desalegn)

       Dereb Desalegn is well known in his homeland of Ethiopia, but he now lives in Australia. This new album features songs from famous Ethiopian singers, traditional songs, and Dereb's own compositions. 

  

              Dereb Desalegn, also known as Dereb The Ambassador, is based in Sydney and originally derives from Ethiopa. Sydney producer Tony Buchen has put together this project for the whole world to enjoy, including Australia. Dereb is a renowned and well-respected artist in Ethiopa. So far, Aussies have responded enthusiastically to Dereb’s music and his fans keep multiplying.

                  Dereb’s self-titled album has come to knock on the door of your heart with its soulful timbre. His music is best described as raw, Ethiopian vintage soul and funk with a pinch of jazz and Motown vibes.

                   Although the language within the music is foreign, that does not hinder the listener to get the most from this rare musical experience. The album contains a good blend of party-like anthems and tranquility. Dereb takes the listener into his world for about forty-eight minutes of your life - if only it was longer.

         The music is complete with a 9-piece band with pre-1970s instruments and equipment, which produces uncommon and raw sounds. One can hear the richness of sound coming from the musical instruments used in this LP, some of which are the 5 piece horns, trumpets, percussion, drums and amazing guitar riffs with the electric guitar on tracks like “Gedawo (Traditional)” and “Setaleygn (Tilahun Gesese)”. The real rhythm of soul music is evident in the instrumental song “Yelage Tizeta (Mulatu Astaqe)” with the harmonious trumpet, the organ and drum beats.

      Most of the tracks on the LP are quite upbeat soul and funk rich in the use of instruments, however there is a beautiful acoustic track called “Hiwot (Tilahun Gesese)” which is quite a soothing track to listen to. The vocals, piano, clapping and African sekere are the sole and dominant sounds used in the track “Kulun (Traditional)”, which makes it such a smooth track to listen to.

      A really great adventure of an album!

01. Dereb Desalegn - Addis Ababa Bete (Alamayetu Eshete) (5:46)

02. Dereb Desalegn - Etu Gela (Tesfaye Lemissa) (4:03)

03. Dereb Desalegn - Ney Denun Tiseshe (Seyfu Hayle) (3:08)

04. Dereb Desalegn - Gonde (Dereb Desalegn) (3:15)

05. Dereb Desalegn - Kulun (Traditional) (4:32)

06. Dereb Desalegn - Setaleygn (Tilahun Gesese) (3:45)

07. Dereb Desalegn - Gedawo (Traditional) (4:17)

08. Dereb Desalegn - Yelage Tizeta (Mulatu Astaqe) (3:27)

09. Dereb Desalegn - Mela Mela (Traditional) (3:20)

10. Dereb Desalegn - Aynei (Dereb Desalegn) (5:28)

11. Dereb Desalegn - Hiwot (Tilahun Gesese) (4:21)

Animut Kinde - washint player [Enemut Kinde]

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01. Animut Kinde - Minim Salasibew (6:11)

02. Animut Kinde - Asa Bebirbira (6:32)

03. Animut Kindie - Yanmute Tizita 02 (5:15)

04. Animut Kinde - Qonjit (4:52)

05. Animut Kinde - Batty (5:33)

06. Animut Kinde - OuOuta (4:35)

07. Animut Kinde - Tizeta (4:45)

08. Animut Kinde - Kenawtie (6:32)

09. Animut Kinde - Dinget Salasbew (6:08)

10. Animut Kinde - Yematbela Wef (2:23)

11. Animut Kinde - Washint (4:34)

Debo Band - Flamingoh [EP] [2010]

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FLAMINGOH (Pink Bird Dawn)

       This live recording documents the brief period around our second trip to East Africa in Winter 2010, a journey that took our Ethio-groove collective across the world to share our interpretations of 1970s-era brass band-style Ethiopian funk. During this time we played a five-part hometown residency, a cosmopolitan Addis Ababa nightclub, and one of the largest music festivals in Africa. Along the way, we once again collaborated with dear friends and outstanding traditional artists: Melaku Belay and his group Fendika.

The flamingo is a majestic bird that thrives in the volcanic lake regions of East Africa's Great Rift Valley. Like many African animals, mystery and myths surround the origins of this long-necked pink bird. Our "flamingoh" is no exception: Flaming feathers (re)birthed from a breaking dawn. A dawn that rips open the sky.

The four tracks offered here are just the beginning: we have a documentary, featuring our escapades with Fendika, and a full-length live album on the way. This is our dawn: goh qeddede.

released 04 September 2010 

Bruck Tesfaye - vocals 
Stacey Cordeiro - accordion 
Kaethe Hostetter - five-string violin 
Jonah Rapino - electric violin 
Danny Mekonnen - tenor and baritone saxophones 
Abye Osman - alto saxophone 
David Harris - trombone 
Brendon Wood - guitar 
Arik Grier - sousaphone 
PJ Goodwin - electric bass 
Keith Waters - drums 

guests 

Selamnesh Zemene - vocals 
Asrat Ayalew - kebero (traditional drums) 

1. Debo Band - Musicawi Silt [Girma Beyene] (6:02)

2. Debo Band - Belomi Benna [Abrar Abde/Mahmoud Ahmed] (4:40)

3. Debo Band - Mignoten Man Yawkal [Seyfu H. Mariam/Tezera H. Miuchael] (4:06)

4. Debo Band - Lantchi Biye [For You] [Menelik Wossenachew] (5:27)

Imperial Tiger Orchestra - Mercato [2011]

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       The Imperial Tiger Orchestra's repertoire consists of revamped remakes of songs from the golden age of Ethiopian music: a powerful horn section, deadly percussions and relentless keyboards provide a merciless and efficient instrumental reinterpretation and improvisation based on original vocal songs. Preserving the natural beauty of melodies and Ethiopian sound while exploring uncharted territory, playing with textures and dynamics, adding distortions and noise to complete beautiful pieces, the self-proclaimed counterfeiters embrace dark hypnotic rhythms, obsessive basslines and grooves from electronic music. Far from any purist notions, the musicians surprise and delight with traditional Thaï "phin" guitar mixed into traditional ethiopian "kebero" percussions. Just one example among many others. It's groove experimentation, it's improvisational heat. 

      Originator of the classic Ethiopiques series which started it all, Francis Falceto invited The Orchestra to play Addis Abeba's Musiques Ethiopiennes in 2009. Not only they convinced the locals but they also played with the likes of Melaku Belaye, Selamnesh, Zinash or Mesele Asmamaw. As Francis said afterward "the Genevan act was the big sensation of last year's festival". 

         Follow-up to last year’s acclaimed EP Addis-Abeba, Mercato is the debut album by Swiss band Imperial Tiger Orchestra, the finest connoisseurs and grooviest performers of Ethiopian music from the Golden Age.

       Raphaël Anker, trumpet player from Geneva, one day decides to gather musicians for a live performance revisiting the golden age of Ethiopian music, the sound of Tlaloun Gessesse, Getatchew Mekurya, Mulatu Astatke, Mahmoud Ahmed and other legends. It’s 2007, and the experience is so memorable that the one shot happening becomes a band: Imperial Tiger Orchestra, a nod to the Imperial Bodyguard Band from Addis-Abeba and to a classic line from Monthy Python’s The Meaning of Life. A tiger – in Africa? …Well it doesn’t sound very likely…

       Consisting of members with very diverse backgrounds (free jazz, noise experimentations, contemporary music, re-invented psychedelic music, strange pop, bizarre rock) the Orchestra tests the grounds with an EP and a 7″ breaking the boundaries of genres followed by a trip to Addis-Abeba in 2009 where they perform with local luminaries and learn about the large diversity of Ethiopian music. A life-changing experience which brings them back to the studio for their debut album: Mercato.

       Overseen with flair by Ethiopian music expert Jeoren Visse, Mercato is a mesmerizing re-interpretation of Ethiopian music’s golden age mixed with the digitalized themes that appeared in the 80s and filtered through the eclectic influences of the Orchestra. Instruments such as the kebero (the most iconic percussion instrument of the country), the Indian dholak, the Thai cymbal, the traditional Thai phin, or the krar (an Ethiopian lyre) follow hypnotizing drum patterns and layers of MIDI sounds. It’s a fascinating retro-futuristic piece of music, close yet totally different from the songs that inspired the band. It’s progressive Ethiopian rock!

       This new record undoubtedly confirms the band’s wider knowledge of Ethiopia’s musical diversity, while allowing them to express their desire of choosing a route not taken by many. Whether it’s saluting the phenomenal Mahmoud Ahmed on the splendid “Lale Lale”, re-interpretating the classic wedding theme “Shinet”, or taking Martha Ashagani’s “Zoma” to new heights, the Orchestra always does it with a unique vision while at the same time honoring the originals. Popular songs magically become classy instrumentals. Thunderous rhythms and feverish hooks, down tempo moments and fast paced epiphanies, electronic sounds and ambient nirvanas, Mercato explores multiples paths and never loses its warm groove, from “Yedao”, the Rahel Yohannes cover that starts the record, to the collaboration with Bethelem Dagnachew whose high pitched voclas close the full-length in the most enchanting way.

SELECTED QUOTES FOR PREVIOUS EP, ADDIS-ABEBA :

“Fabulous release!!! So fresh to hear this in my inbox instead of mindless minimal & noise for deaf & dumb kids. wonderful wonderful wonderful!!! thanX” Trevor Jackson

“Beautiful music. Perfect for my headphones and sunsets/sunrises. Thanks  ” Soul Clap

“I Adore! Superb fusion modern/traditional” Laurence Pierre (France Inter)

“Wonderful” Nick Warren

“Yes! Thats exactly what I need right now! Some raw, ethiopian Funk mixed with the best grooves this world has to offer…essential! Save the Tigers!” Quarion

“What a wonder. Superb” Laurent Garnier

“Love it – powerful music” Sinden

“wow. It’s like mulatu in a time machine. love the interpretation and love the finished sound.” Scattermish.

Imperial Tiger Orchestra are :

Raphaël Anker (trumpet), 

Alexandre Rodrigues (rhodes, keyboards),

John Menoud (saxophone), 

Cyril Moulas (bass), 

Luc Détraz (percussions) and 

Julien Israelian (drums), 

Yohannes Afework - Washint Melodies [2001]

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       The washint is an end-blown wooden flute originally used by the Amhara people in Ethiopia. Traditionally, Amharic musicians would pass on their oral history through song accompanied by the washint as well as the krar, a six stringed lyre, and the masenqo, a one string fiddle.

       The washint can be constructed using wood, bamboo, or other cane. Varieties exists in different lengths and relative fingerhole placement, and a performer might use several different flutes over the course of a performance to accommodate different song types. It generally has four finger-holes, which allows the player to create a pentatonic scale.

Don't know much about Yohannes Afework's album "Washint Melodies" from 2001, but music is beautiful and relaxing ... 


Enjoy rural Ethiopian soundscapes !!

Mohammed 'Jimmy' Mohammed - Hulgizey [Always, forever] [2007]

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       Blind Ethiopian vocalist Mohammed 'Jimmy' Mohammed, influenced by the legendary vocalist Tlahoun Gessesse (heard on the Ethiopiques CD series), has been a legend in Ethiopia for many years, mostly singing Gessesse's songs. Incredibly this is his first proper full length CD, which The Ex and Han Bennink made possible after hearing Mohammed perform in Europe and Ethiopian; so impressed were they that they made these recordings possible. 

    Han Bennink plays on several tracks, as does Zu bassist Massimo, Ethiopian saxophonist Getatchew Mekuria, alongside Mohammed's frequent collaborator Mesele Asmamaw on krar, a kind of 5-string harp. But above all this release is fueled by Mohammed's clear and powerful voice, making this intricate and ecstatic music so impressive and passionate.

1. Mohammed 'Jimmy' Mohammed - Sethed Seketelat (5:26)

2. Mohammed 'Jimmy' Mohammed - Mela Mela (5:07)

3. Mohammed 'Jimmy' Mohammed - Eywat Setenategagn (5:08)

4. Mohammed 'Jimmy' Mohammed - Antchin Keto (6:26)

5. Mohammed 'Jimmy' Mohammed - Hulgizey (6:13)

6. Mohammed 'Jimmy' Mohammed - Yaselamo Lalo (8:02)

7. Mohammed 'Jimmy' Mohammed - Ende Jerusalem (10:40)

8. Mohammed 'Jimmy' Mohammed - Sevetchi Men Yilala (26:50)