The Very Best of Éthiopiques

Éthiopiques is a series of compact discs featuring Ethiopian and Eritrean singers and musicians. Many of the Ethiopiques CDs compile various singles and albums that Amha Records, Kaifa Records, and Philips-Ethiopia released during the 1960s and 1970s in Ethiopia. Prominent singers and musicians from this era appearing on Ethiopiques releases include Alemayehu Eshete, Asnaketch Worku, Mahmoud Ahmed, Mulatu Astatke, and Tilahun Gessesse. However, some Ethiopiques releases are new recordings. The Paris-based world music record label Buda Musique began the Ethiopiques series in 1997 and initially compiled Ethiopian popular music releases from the 1960s and 1970s. Some of the subsequent CDs focus on traditional music, while others highlight individual musicians or specific styles. As of 2010, there have been 27 releases. None of the CDs feature modern-day synthesizer-based Ethiopian pop music. Francis Falceto is the producer of the series. ... The Very Best of Éthiopiques Track Listing CD1: 1. Heywete – Tesfa Maryam Kidane 2. Yekermo Sew – Mulatu Astatqe 3. Yekatit – Mulatu Astatqe 4. Enken Yelelebesh – Girma Beyene 5. Ewnet Yet Lagegnesh – Bahta Gebre-Heywet 6. Gubelye – Mulatu Astatqe 7/8. Ere Mela Mela/Metche New – Mahmoud Ahmed 9 .Tchero Adari Negn – Alemayehu Eshete 10.Telantena Zare – Alemayehu Eshete 11.Muziqawi Silt – Wallias Band 12.Gedawo – Ayalew Mesfin & Black Lion Band 13.Tchuheten Betsemu – Tlahoun Gessesse 14.Tezeta – Menelik Wesnatchew CD2: 1. Mother's Love - Tsegue-Maryam Guebrou 2. Sema - Tlahoun Gessesse 3. Milenu - Tewelde Redda 4. Embi Ila - Beyene Habte 5. Tezeta - Mulatu Astatqe 6. Set Alamenem - Girma Beyene 7. Yemendjar Shega - Muluqen Mellesse & Dahlak Band 8. Antchi Hoye - Getatchew Mekurya 9. Kulun Mankwalesh (1970) - Tlahoun Gessesse 10. Shellela - Getatchew Mekurya 11. Mela Mela - Seyfu Yohannes 12. Atawurulegn Lela - Mahmoud Ahmed 13. Fetsum Denq Ledj Nesh - Mahmoud Ahmed 14. Abatatchen Hoy (Pater Noster) - Alemu Aga These 2CDs contain some of the very best tracks from the highly acclaimed 'ethiopiques' series featuring, among others, the award-winning Mahmoud Ahmed, national icon Tlahoun Gessesse, the `James Brown' of Alemayehu Eshete and `Broken Flowers' movie music of Mulatu Astatqe. "This is a unique record release series, much of it from the glorious explosion of soulful, sorrowful and joyful music cut between the repression of absolute monarchy and the cultural insanity of the Derg regime. The spoilt complaints of Western pop musicians pale into insignificance compared to the defiant human spirit contained in these recordings. Do yourself a favour and discover the Ethiopian R&B counterparts to James Brown, Elvis Presley and Jackie Wilson but also jazz composers, choral groups, folk minstrels and bluesmen with power and wildness of Bukka White or Son House, or contemplative piano music that might suggest Bill Evans or Maurice Ravel for a moment, but is really from a strange and wonderful place of its own." - Elvis Costello