V.A. - The Rough Guide To The Music Of Ethiopia (2004) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Taking something of a break from their usual tendency to take a wide range of music from an area, the folks at Rough Guide have this time around focused their attention in on only one major aspect of Ethiopian music: the 'swinging '60s''. Admittedly, this is by far the most important period in Ethiopian popular music, with everything since being shaped, in some part, by the stars of the day. The sound is entirely unique, much like the rest of the nation's identity. During this period of creative exploration, the sound of Addis Ababa's nightlife was cemented to some extent, making heavy use of atypical piano progressions by masters such as Alemayehu Eshete and Girma Bèyènè, and jumping, roving, off-balance but powerful horn arrangements (the brass section was just developed in the last century, after a gift from Russian tsars to the country's official bands around the turn of the century). Vocals cover the range from the same sort of roving aesthetic to the more popularized and somewhat more streamlined concepts of Mahmoud Ahmed. Somewhat more modern stars are also represented, hailing largely from the time of the 'Derg', under a Stalinist government -- Aster Aweke and Netsanet Mellesse both hail from this period, though their ultimate popularity has come afterward. Despite the lack of the more ancient sounds of Ethiopia (there is one piece played on the ancient begena here), it's an outstanding album, with an interesting focus on some of the slickest, jazziest, and yet most foreign-sounding music many Westerners are likely to hear. Give it a spin or two just for curiosity's sake, but keep listening to the hooks.by Adam Greenberg  
Tracklist:
1 Alèmayèhu Eshèté – Addis Ababa Bété 5:52
Written-By – Alèmayèhu Eshèté
2 Girma Bèyènè – Ené Nègn Bay Manèsh 4:02
Written-By – Gétatchèw Dègèfu
Written-By, Arranged By – Girma Bèyènè
3 Mogès Habté –    Altchalkum 6:17
Traditional
Arranged By – Mogès Habté
4 Netsanet Mèllèssè – Dodge 5:40
Arranged By – Yohannes Tèkolla
Written-By – Netsanet Mèllèssè
5 Wallias Band–    Muziqawi Silt 3:45
Written-By, Arranged By – Girma Bèyènè
6 Fanayé Tesfayé – Tchèwata 6:03
Lyrics By – Sosena Tadesse
Music By – Nega Addissu
7 Alèmu Aga – Selé Senè Seqlèt 3:58
Traditional
8 Aster Aweke – Y'Shebellu 7:27
Written-By – Aster Aweke
9 Yared Tèfèra – Antchi Hoyé Lèné 6:00
Traditional
Arranged By – Abegaz K. Shiota, Yared Tèfèra
10 Tlahoun Gèssèssè – Alegntayé 4:39
Arranged By – Mulatu Astatqé
Written-By – Ayaléw Abbèbè, Tesfaye Abbèbè
11 Mahmoud Ahmed – Bèmen Sèbèb Letlash 4:34
Written-By – Mahmoud Ahmed
12 Tèshomè Meteku – Hasabé 3:57
Arranged By – Mulatu Astatqé
Written-By – Mulatu Astatqé, Tèshomè Meteku
13 Mulatu Astatqé – Sabyé 5:27
Traditional
Arranged By – Mulatu Astatqé
14 Muluqèn Mèllèssè – Eté Endénèsh Gèdawo 4:15
Arranged By – The Equators
Written-By – Muluqèn Mèllèssè
15 Adanèh Tèka – Medley 2:41
Written-By – Adanèh Tèka