Mulatu Astatke / Getatchew Mekurya

 

Hey All,

I just wanted to squeak in here between Boss' interim post and Martin's upcoming post to throw up a response of sorts to Boss' awesome Budos Band tracks.  I figure that most, if not all, of you are familiar with Mulatu Astatke but on the off chance that some folks have missed I'll provide a taste. 

I feel that the Budos Band has taken a lot of their sounds and even some of their lines straight from Mulatu, not that I think this is at all a bad thing.  There should be more of this stuff around but there isn't that much.  Mulatu Astatke is an Ethiopian bandleader and composer operating in a pretty unique afro-groove-jazz with a lot of snaky, minor key horns and psychy electric piano.

Check out Yekatit

This selection comes from the excellent Ethiopiques series, an expansive series of compilations focusing on Ethiopian music.  Very few of these titles are available on vinyl but selections from this album have been released on a French vinyl pressing as "Ethio Jazz" with the cover image shown below.  It is a fantastic comp and I highly recommend it.  He also has put a couple of records out in the last few years that I have not yet checked out.  Maybe someone else can comment on those.

For an additional Ethiopian treat I present one of Mulatu's biggest influences and probably the real founding father of modern Ethiopian music, Getatchew Mekurya.  From what I understand he exerted an overwhelming and formative influence on the Ethiopian music scene in the mid 20th century as a pioneering and unique sax player, a composer and especially for his updating of traditional Ethiopian tunes in a more jazz-inflected mode.  He has also recently recorded an album with the great Dutch punk band, The Ex.

Check Getatchew Mekurya's arrangement of this traditional Ethiopian song, Almaz Yeharerwa

This track is also from the Ethiopiques series.  From the comp highlighting Mr. Mekurya.

Have fun.

Budos Band / BrownOut

Hello again, Friends!

RKN is feeling a bit of a time-crunch these days (no-doubt some sort of coconut related crisis), so we're going to pick him up in the rotation next time. Until then, I've got a few more for everyone.

Kris' Charles Bradley post led me down a Daptone-inspired wormhole of new-soul. Some of the members of Mr. Bradley's backing-band are involved with The Budos Band. Where to start with these guys? Afro-funk with a strong South American influence all stewed in the melting pot of the greater New York area. David, these dudes are practically in the apartment next to you. And they fucking rule.

This is the kind of band I always thought (wished) my old funk band would morph into if we were to stick with it (and if we weren't, y'know, 17 year old hacks...); cool arrangements, an obviously huge list of influences, totally unwaveringly dissonant at times and straight up beautiful at others. Groovy as hell all the time. These dudes rule.

While their first album is great, their 3rd album (creatively named Budos Band III. I'm positive this is an ACID KING reference) really shows some range and some risk. And a Cobra on the cover. Check out two of my favorite moody selections from III:


Nature's Wrath:

And Here we have Black Venom. The rhythm section vamp on this is soooooo killer.

In the same vein we've got Brownout. I first heard about these guys about 5 years ago. A BBoy (is that term still Kosher, Goldman?) that was training at SFCF brought some of it in while he was training. I was hooked. Definitely more latin-influenced with strong elements of funk, and psychedelic rock. It is safe to say they are not afraid to lay down a solid montuno. They also have three albums. My fav is Agulias and Cobras.

Here's two for you. First up is Con El Cuete:

Also check out Framed By Death.

Anyway, that's what's been occupying my earholes lately. That and the crushing JUDJUDs-into-hammer-on-descending-line of YOB's "Burning The Altar". Nonstop.

Keep it really real,
-APB

PS NEWS: Tweak Bird has a new one out. It hasn't arrived in my mail-box yet, so I'll let you know when I know. Also, Rush was just recently inducted into the Rock N Roll hall of Fame alongside Public Enemy. Just FYI.