Although Dub Colossus made their name fusing Ethiopian music with reggae and funk, in this, their fourth album, band leader Nick Page has rung a change in focus: a departure from the home of Rastafari icon Haile Selassie I for a thorough exploration of Jamaican influenced sounds.
Addis to Omega is bursting with funk-influenced reggae and stripped back dub, brash dancehall, jumping ska, and sincere lethargic grooves.
The album opens with Nick Page's alter ego Dubulah's bold fuzzy bass and Joseph Cotton's post-Rastafarian vocals on Boom Ka Boom (and the Dub Disciples). At first appearances a strong dancehall track, key changes and eerie chord progressions hint at further depth.
The record continues to feature prominent vocals, but Dub Colossus are at their strongest on their instrumental pieces Soft Power, Tale of 2 Cities, and the epic Orpheus Underground. Without the distraction of accomodating authentic vocals and traditional song structures a space is formed for composition, open improvisation and more profound mood changes.
Although recognisably following a reggae-based theme, the impressive and diverse collection of contributors on the release occasionally introduces a surprise. Natacha Atlas and Samy Bishai bring a more exotic sound on The Shape of Things to Come - a song more Arabian than Carribean - or the atmospheric A Voice Has Power featuring the mesmerising low rumbling vocal work of Albert Kuvezin.
Family Man and the title track give the brass contributors Horns of Negus time to develop classic long brass chordal lines, while the funky Fight Back provides opportunity for Ben Somers to channel Maceo in his tenor solo.
A well-executed exercise in reggae-fusion, Addis to Omega is a fifteen track journey through the many facets of its sub-genres. Afro-beat percussion and pentatonic Ethio-Jazz have been swapped for political lyrics, fast-paced reggae and clean dub. While Dub Colossus have undeniably changed musical tack, the original twists and large collective approach remain the same.
review by Dan Bergsagel
Dub Colossus - Boom Ka Boom (and the Dub Disciples) (4:21) Dub Colossus - Family Man (3:53) Dub Colossus - The Casino Burning Down (5:05) Dub Colossus - We Are the Playthings of the Rich and Famous (4:05) Dub Colossus - Fight Back (4:42) Dub Colossus - Addis to Omega (Amnesis Mix) (5:33) Dub Colossus - Keep On Rocking (6:17) Dub Colossus - Soft Power (4:17) Dub Colossus - Madmen (3:50) Dub Colossus - Mi Dad (3:18) Dub Colossus - A Tale of Two Cities (4:34) Dub Colossus - The Shape of Things to Come (5:46)
A political refugee, Zeleke Gessesse, was forced to leave his beloved homeland of Ethiopia 30 years ago after the nation fell into a crippling state of political suppression and economic strife. His personal eventually led Zeleke to the United States, where he persued studies studies at the university level, and focused intently on developing his burgeoning musical career. Eventually, Zeleke was joined by his brothers and fellow musicians from Ethiopia. As a musical collective, they formed a band called Dallol. Zeleke’s band was signed in the early eighties to Bob Marley’s TUFF GONG label. In 1984, Zeleke’s musical innovations and talents earned him an invitation to join Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers. For nine years, Zeleke served as a integral member of the band, touring the world, and echoing Jah’s message to the masses.
Throughout his tenure with The Meloday Makers, Zeleke was a key contributor to the albums Conscious Party and One Bright Day. In particular, his musical input was critical in the development of the tracks “Tomorrow People,” and “Black My Story,” two of the bands most popular and widely adored songs.
During his successful musical career Zeleke was able to, eventually, accumulate enough capital to purusue a dream he had long harbored. He had always dreamed of owning and operating a world class, live music venue. His vision was to create a venue where the best Reggae and World Music artists could showcase their talents in a positive environment.
In 1986, Zeleke became a partial owner of The Wild Hare, which is located in Chicago, Illinois, and he has spent the last 24 years investing his heart and soul in to crafting it into something truly special. The results of Zeleke’s hard work are evidenced by the celebrated reputation The Wild Hare now enjoys on an international scale. In 2007, major interior renovations were completed; the most dramatic to date. These enhancements serve to enforce the visitor’s perception that they’ve entered into a dynamic and exciting cultural oasis. The beauty of the new interior, combined with highly sought after artists routinely stalking the stage, has created a common perception amongst music lovers that The Wild Hare in the same pantheon as Chicago’s most regal musical landmarks.
In addition to The Wild Hare into the respected venue it is today, Zeleke has never stopped recording, producing and performing his own transcendent music. His critically acclaimed albums include Come to Me, Out of Africa and Selam. The eclectic musical infusion one hears in Zeleke’s music is truly unique. He often employs Ethiopian and reggae rhythms. Lyrics are sang in both Amharic and English - with a spattering of Jamaican patois mixed in as well. This unique music results in a pleasing, signature sound which has gathered him a fiercely loyal following. As most critics agree: Zeleke’s music is truly a rarity in its universal ability to inspire, enlighten and entertain.
Though very much a musical icon in Chicago, Zeleke’s heart belongs to his motherland. In fact, his ultimate dream is to build another Wild Hare, along with a recording studio, back home in Ethiopia. In doing so he will come full circle and complete the journey he began decades ago as a refugee fleeing his homeland with only a dream.
R E U P L O A D Mulatu Astatke & The Heliocentrics- Live @ Jazz à La Villette 01/09/2011 VIDEO
In 2005, thanks to Jim Jarmusch film Broken Flowers, the name of Mulatu Astatke finally came out of the small circle of aficionados of Ethiopian music. A 65 years ago, the father of Ethio-jazz then found a new audience ready to taste the unique rhythm of his music. Behind his vibraphone and percussion, Astatke signs unconventional jazz, steeped in Latino sounds, instrumental soul, Ethiopian folk music, where brass and percussion converse in a new way. At home, the samba is shifted, jazz borrows often tortuous spicy funky.
Beside him on stage, we note the presence of Heliocentrics saxophonist James Arben, Danny Keane on cello, also part of the project with the Heliocentrics Mulatu and heard alongside Gorillaz, and that of Alexander Hawkins, young British pianist already spotted by the BBC.
Black Jesus Experience is an 8-10 piece band playing an irresistibly danceable blend of traditional Ethiopian song and 21st century groove. With backgrounds as diverse as the 5 continents the members of 'BJX' hail from, their music reflects the multicultural vibrancy of the band's hometown, Melbourne, Australia.
When not touring BJX run a weekly session at cultural hub The Horn where BJX create new songs live on stage. The comfort BJX has with this practice lies in the improvising traditions of that feed BJX including hip hop, jazz, azmari and rutu pa'u.
The music is also fed quite literally before each performance by the ritual of a group meal prepared by singer Enushu and MD Peter Harper in the Ethiopian tradition, "those who eat from the same plate will not betray each other". This inspires and reinforces bonds musical, social and spiritual, bonds BJX invite their audiences to join.
Enushu began entertaining her local community as a child in Addis Ababa. Forced to leave Ethiopia, Enushu migrated to Australia bringing hauntingly beautiful compositions inspired by her remarkable life story and the unique vocal traditions of Ethiopia. Enushu is joined on vocals by poetic giant and lyrical miracle The Monk, Zimbabwe born and Outback bred.
Highlights for BJX include two tours of "the Motherland" Ethiopia, performing sellout shows with Ethiojazz legend Mulatu Astatke in Europe and Australia (an association which won BJX and Mulatu "The Age Best Tour" award) Glastonbury, Big Chill, City Of London Festival, WOMADdelaide, the Big Day Out, Golden Plains and Melbourne International Jazz Festival and supporting Tony Allen among other great festivals.
The rhymes and chimes of Black Jesus Experience deliver the power and beauty of Africa through the vocal prism of Hip-Hop and freedom of Funk.
Discography :
Dark Light (2009)
Yeluinta (2010)
Migration (2014)
band members are : Enushu Taye - vocals Peter Harper - tenor saxophone, composer Ian Dixon - trumpet, flugelhorn, composer Liam Monkhouse - mc/vocal Chris Frangou - electric bass Matt Head - drums Hue Blanes - keyboards Nashua Lee - electric guitar
Mahlet Gebre Giyorgis was born in Mekelle, the capital city of Tigray, in August 1986. Mahlet, with an inborn vocal virtuosity, commenced the art of music in Mekelle five years ago. In those few years of dexterity, when she was working as a singer at Yared and Selam.
Music Bands in Mekelle, she devoted herself with perseverance to serious studies of music that dramatically gave rise to the happiest expectation of her present success. A year before, with a view to evaluate the standard of her genius as a vocalist in manipulating the public taste and sensitivity, she released a single melody in Tigrigna, known as Beyneye Terife, that unexpectedly resulted in adding an extraordinary value into the standard of Tigrigna songs and catching hold of a wide range of public reputation and acceptance throughout Ethiopia. Indeed, despite the fact that it was her fresh attempt to breakthrough the arena of our country's music industry , Beyney Terife was a yardstick that won her the 2005-2006 Tigray All Arts Award (TARTA), which was organized by the Mega Creative Arts Center in 2005.
Now, Mahlet Gebre Giyorgis is once again appearing into the scene of the Ethiopian 3rd Millennium with a breathtaking mastery of a new melody, called Wessine. This new music album expresses lots of issues that are associated with the day-to-day lives of human society, in its sweetest form in away it captivates all of us. It is a great pleasure and honor to Mega Creative Arts Center while providing you with the original version of Mahilet's new album as a novel souvenir in the new Millennium. Cheers!
