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Album Details

• Artist: Various Artists
• Album: Ethiopiques Vol.3: The Golden Age of Modern Ethiopian Music
• Label: Buda Musique
• Year of Release: 1998
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: patchen on 2005-08-23

Serious pop from Ethiopia does not roll off one's tongue easily; most people think of famine or of Italy's only military victory in 2000 years when they think of Ethiopia. Yet that magic land of mystical Christians and the home of Rastafari has many riches to offer. Their pop music is one of them. This is a huge and detailed series of the various artists and styles that have boiled inside Ethiopia's deep culture. This volume features some of the country's major stars: Most notably Mahmoud Ahmed and Alemayhu Eshete. While they are represented by good examples of their music, (Eshete's "Hameta" is one of the coolest soul tunes I've ever heard) other artists steal the show. Tadele Beqele ("Antichi Qondjo") and Alem Ayehy Eshete with Hirut Begele ("Temeles") display major funk chops, and they rock with a heavy bottom even Bootsy Collins would envy. Any volume in this great series is worth a tumble, but this one is probably the best introduction.

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