Tracklist

1. Munit - Chalachew Ashenafi
2. Ye Salame - Asfaw Tsegè
3. Arada - Zuryash Abeye
4. Awdamet - Chalachew Ashenafi
5. Ye Gonder Lidj Netch - Chalachew Ashenafi
6. Wube Abeba - Tesfay Wube
7. Ababille - Etenesh Girma
8. Desse Lay - Mohammed "Jimmy" Mohammed, Berhanu Aweke + Wedere Tadesse
9. Amamesso - Habtu Demse
10. Memyew - Chalachew Ashenafi
11. Eyoha - Asfaw Tsegè, Etenesh Girma, Debesay Zegeye + Habtu Demse

Sleevenotes

Most people are familiar with the Ethiopian music of the "golden seventies". The great CD series of "Ethiopiques" focuses on this remarkable period of truly amazing and rich music. The era of the big brass bands came to an end in the period of the "Derg", the military government in Ethiopia from 1975 till 1991. After that, the scene seemed confused.

Many great musicians were forced into exile or passed away. The horns mostly disappeared and were replaced by cheap keyboards everywhere. Awful bombastic overproduced "plastic" pop-productions flooded the market. Synthesisers, vocoders, drum machines and hasty productions that all sound alike.

But in the last few years something new is emerging. Young producers have started combining traditional rhythms and strong dance beat production. The result is very original, uplifting and very danceable music. The gurage, wollo, gondar, oromo and other traditional rhythms work wonders for this new dance music. And the Ethiopian youth loves it. It can be heard not only in the hip areas like Bole, but all over Addis and other Ethiopian urban areas. Blasting from restaurants, taxis, coffeeplaces, grocerystores and Addis' giant market, the Mercato.

The "Ililta" CD is a compilation of this new Ethiopian dance music, recorded with a new generation of singers over the last decade. A cross-selection of the production work of Mesele Asmamaw and some of his close colleagues.

Play loud and go for it!

Terrie Ex.