Ethiopiques, Vol. 1: Golden Years Of Modern Ethiopian Music

Description

The influences of American soul and blues are obvious here, the former quite apparent in the Memphis groove of Muluquen Mellese’s Wetetie Mare, with its smoking bass line. But the most revolutionary pieces are those that go utterly against history, making the piece relevant for the young–which, after all, is what rock, hip-hop and every other movement have done in the past!

1969-1978: the main body of Ethiopian records was produced in less than one decade: all in all, just under 500 45s and around 30 LPs. Amha Ashèté, creator of the Amha Records label, was the driving force behind this brief creative burst and one of the main founders of the modernist movement which swept the Erhiopian scene during the end of the rule of the emperor Haile Sellassie. In six years, Amha issued around 250 titles. From his first recordings, Amha Eshèté displayed unerring taste in choosing the best independent or otherwise unattached musicians.
Featuring : Girma Bèyènè, Mulatu Astatqè, Fèqadè Amdè Mesqel, Tesfa Maryam Kidané, Muluqèn Mèllèssè, Mahmoud Ahmed, Sèyfu Yohannès, Tèshomè Meteku, Gètatchèw Kassa, Tilayé Gèbrè etc

Price: $17.23