The golden age of Ethiopian popular music (as heard on the fabled ETHIOPIQUES series) is famous in part for the sparsity of material that it yielded: The state-owned recording industry was largely a ramshackle government vanity, and while music of the music it captured was strikingly haunting, only a few dozen tracks were recorded in the 1960s and '70s...
Neway Debebe - Yetikimt Abeba
Since then, the floodgates have opened as Ethiopia has more or less entered the modern world -- more artists are making and recording more music than was dreamed possible back in the politically repressive "good old days," and the fruits of this renaissance are heard on this 6-CD set.
Each of these discs is also sold separately, and each centers on a general theme -- one for ballads, one of traditional music (which is quite nice), a disc's worth of contemporary dance music and one of "chic-chic-ka" rhythm, a popular modern style. There are also two discs worth of instrumental music -- one featuring recent recordings of more traditional themes is quite nice, while the other has a contemporary feel and is closer to modern "smooth jazz."
The tracks are from the late 1990s and early '00s -- the artists are generally younger, more modern musicians, although a few old-timers like Mahmoud Ahmed are still alive and kicking, and sound as cool as ever. Although this collection doesn't have the same eerie power as the '70s-era recordings, anyone who got into the ETHIOPIQUES discs will want to check this out as well, to see where the music has gone since then.
01 - Mahmoud Ahmed - Anchi Bale Gamme (6:43)
02 - Muluken Mellesse - Nanu Nanu Ney (6:28)
03 - Hamelmal Abate - Awdamet (6:10)
04 - Theodros Tadesse - Albo (5:41)
05 - Neway Debebe - Yetikimt Abeba (5:13)
06 - Theodros Kassahun - Lebo (5:44)
07 - Hana Shenkute - Hode Ba-Le-Abisho (5:49)
08 - Dawit Mellesse - Ayisemashim (4:57)
09 - Mahmoud Ahmed - Derra & Ye-Selalewa (7:01)
10 - Tehsome Wolde - Litishegnegn New Fikire (4:31)
Teshome's career stretches back over thirty years in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia as a member of the influential Soul Ekos Band in the late 60s.
Teshome Mitiku began performing at local schools and nightclubs when he was just a teenager. In the late 60's, singer and keyboardist Teshome Mitiku; his brother and alto saxophonist, Theodros "Teddy" Mitiku; trumpeter, Tamrat Ferendji; bassist Fekade Amde-Meskel; drummer, Tesfaye Mekonnen; guitarist, Alula Yohannes and singer, Seifu Yohannes formed the influential Soul Ekos Band.
The band released numerous songs. Teshome Mitiku composed and wrote Gara Ser New Betesh, Yezemed Yebada, Mot Adeladlogn and Hasabe.
Bahta Gebre Hiwotbegan his musical career as a member of the house band at the Ras Hotel in Addis Ababa. Hiwot played with this band for many years but he managed to record several solo singles, including the charming "Tessassategn Eko", which was arranged by master Mulatu Astatke.
01. Bahta G. Hiwot - Degmo Endemin Alesh(2:50) 02 - Bahta G. Hiwot - Teresahugne-Ende (2:33) 03 - Bahta G. Hiwot - Gizewin-Alawkim (3:01) 04 - Bahta G. Hiwot - Minew-Tadeyalesh (2:07) 05 - Bahta G. Hiwot - Kal -Ayisheshegim (2:21)
06. Bahta G. Hiwot - Anchim Endelela (3:39)
07. Bahta G. Hiwot - Sikay Zakealye (4:09)
08. Bahta G. Hiwot - Kalish Tesebere (2:10)
09. Bahta G. Hiwot - Ahunim Ezaw Negne (2:16)
10. Bahta G. Hiwot - Yetilacha We Rie (4:00)
11. Bahta G. Hiwot - Anchi Lij (3:32)
12. Bahta G. Hiwot - Befirkrua Teyeze (2:08)
13. Bahta G. Hiwot - Ya Ya (2:13) 14 - Bahta G. Hiwot - Metiche-Eskayish (2:22) 15 - Bahta G. Hiwot - Milas (3:16) 16 - Bahta G. Hiwot - Ye-Fikir-Azmera (2:52)
Amha AE 410 A Essatu Tessema and Seifu Yohannes: Fikir Bekumena Arranged by Tewolde Redda Reissued on 'éthiopiques-25: 1971>1975 Modern Roots' (Buda Musique, France) as "Feqer bèqumèna".
Amha AE 410 B ISSATU TESSEMA: Ayamaru Ishetie
Essatu Tessema: Ayamaru Eshete Arranged by Tewolde Redda Reissued on 'éthiopiques-25: 1971>1975 Modern Roots' (Buda Musique, France) as "Ayamaru eshèté".
Essatu Tessema - Fikir Bekumena [ፍቅር በቁመና]
Year: 1972 Record pressed in Greece Note: "Issatu Tessema" is spelled Essatu Tessema" on the labels. "Fiker Bekumena" is spelled "Fikir Bekumena" on the labels, "Ayamaru Ishetie" is spelled "Ayamaru Eshete"
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