MULATU! - matt
If you haven’t ever taken a ride on the gravy train that is Ethiopian Funk, climb aboard IMMEDIATELY. Charlie and I made a stop by The Dusty Groove a few weeks ago, and I came across what is now the crown jewel of my record collection: Mulatu Astatke’s Ethiopian Instrumental Hits. The man was the founder of Ethio-Jazz, and his music is moody, slinky, funky, and brooding all at once. He plays electronic vibes and his music is accompanied well by out of tune pianos, saxophones, funky bass lines, and guitars that give this music a uniqueness all of its own. The influence of the blues is evident (Munayé) and beyond that his songwriting and arrangements are truly beautiful (such as “Tezeta”), funky (Yègellé Tezeta), and at times psychedelic and groovy and make you wonder why you hadn’t heard of him earlier. I’m not posting individual tracks, I’m giving the whole schmere, because it’s that good, damnit. This is best listened to in the evening, so sip on or roll your best stuff, turn the lights down low, and let Mulatu take care of the rest. This is lo-fi goodness.
This is Ethiopiques, Vol. 4, a collection of his work spanning 1969-1974.
http://www.divshare.com/download/4847083-955
- Yèkèrmo Sèw (A Man of Experience and Wisdom)
- Mètché Dershé (When Am I Going to Reach There?)
- Kasalèfkut Hulu (From All The Time I Have Passed)
- Tezeta (Nostalgia)
- Yègellé Tezeta (My Own Memory)
- Munayé (My Muna)
- Gubèlyé (My Gubel)
- Yèkatit (February)
- Nètsanèt (Liberty)
- Tezetayé Antchi LiDJ (My Unforgettable Remembrance)
- Sabyé (My Saba)
- Dèwèl (Bell)
Enjoy!
I was given this cd a few years ago and it is in a word -unbelievable. I strongly recommend checking it out if you have any interest in world/jazz/african grooves…much of this album also appeared on the soundtrack to Broken Flowers a pretty good Bill Murray movie.
