Global Rhythm (Publication) (p.45) - "This is magical music, at once compelling, challenging and fascinating."
The Wire (p.57) - "The sound on these previously unissued recordings is terrific and the performances, combining vocals, with traditional woodwinds, strings and drums, are vibrant..."
Down Beat (p.84) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "[I]t sounds surprisingly of a piece and dynamic for a folkloric unit charged with covering such a kaleidoscopic range."
Global Rhythm (Publication) (p.45) - "This is magical music, at once compelling, challenging and fascinating."
Orchestra Ethiopia: Getamessay Abbebe, Mamite Tenaw, Desta Tsehay (vocals).
Released by the French label Buda Musique, the ETHIOPIQUES series is one of the longest running and most consistently satisfying world music sets around. VOLUME 23 collects tracks from Orchestra Ethiopia, an ensemble from the 1970s that relied heavily on traditional Ethiopian music to form its musical foundation. While other artists in the series took American funk, R&B, and jazz and funneled it through the prism of their homeland, and in turn created the classic Ethiopian pop sound, Orchestra Ethiopia acted as archivists and scholars of their country's own indigenous music. Remarkably, this collection consists almost entirely of unreleased material, making it both a perfect introduction to the group, and a treasure trove for Ethiopian musical enthusiasts.
Released by the French label Buda Musique, the ETHIOPIQUES series is one of the longest running and most consistently satisfying world music sets around. VOLUME 23 collects tracks from Orchestra Ethiopia, an ensemble from the 1970s that relied heavily on traditional Ethiopian music to form its musical foundation. While other artists in the series took American funk, R&B, and jazz and funneled it through the prism of their homeland, and in turn created the classic Ethiopian pop sound, Orchestra Ethiopia acted as archivists and scholars of their country's own indigenous music. Remarkably, this collection consists almost entirely of unreleased material, making it both a perfect introduction to the group, and a treasure trove for Ethiopian musical enthusiasts.