Product Review

In the rich, varied, and bizarre history of African music, the tragedy of the Ethiopian
pop recording industry stands alone. But for the past several years, Buda Records
has brought us the Ethiopiques series, showcasing the immense scope of the golden
age of Ethiopian music lovingly assembled, remastered, and fully annotated. The
swinging Addis of the 1960s and early 1970s (before the dreadful Derg s Stalinistmilitary
glaciations) was a period of intense experimentation that encompassed the
traditional repertoire. Whether Oromo or Amhara, all of the greatest voices of the
time took part with intense creative fervor, as can be heard on this 25th installment
in the Ethiopiques collection.