Free mp3: Aykedashem lebe

Mohammed 'Jimmy' Mohammed - vocals
Mesele Asmamaw - krar, backing vocals
Asnake Gebreyes - drums, backing vocals
Han Bennink - drums (1,3,4,6,8)
Getatchew Mekuria - saxophone (2,3,5)
Massimo Zu - bass (1)

All songs based on versions by Tlahoun Gessesse / except 'Mela mela', by Bahiru Kegne Arrangements by the musicians.

Recorded at Jottem, Wormerveer, Holland. 6/7/10 may 2005. Engineered by Maarten Tap. Mixed januari 2006 by Andy Moor. Mastered by Colin McLean. Produced by Terrie Ex. Lay-out, artwork: Jos Kley, Emma Fischer. Photo's & stills: Emma Fischer.

It must seem like we're on the Terp payroll or something by now, this being the second record they've put out that's received record of the week honors here at aQ. And the fourth or fifth that we've raved about. And to be totally honest, the Terp releases that ended up -not- being records of the week, could very well have under different circumstances, as they are equally as amazing. What can we say, everything Terp has put out so far has totally and completely blown us away! The live Konono record, the gorgeous Lanaya record and this newest release from blind Ethiopian vocalist Mohammed 'Jimmy' Mohammed. His story is just as amazing as his voice and the music he makes. After becoming blind as a child, supposedly as a curse for his parents' decision to ignore the warnings of a fortune teller and baptize him, as God had willed him to be a Muslim, Mohammed ran away and spent several years on the streets, homeless, begging for food, finding solace in the songs of legendary vocalist Tlahoun Gessesse (immortalized in several volumes of the amazing Ethiopiques series) who not only sang beautifully, but whose songs addressed the plight of the poor and suffering. Mohammed was eventually discovered and cared for, enrolled in a school for the blind and raised by a kind hearted surrogate father. After money was raised to help restore his sight, he was heartbroken to discover the funds were stolen and his eyesight was never to be restored. Mohammed spent a brief stint in the national theater before becoming a nightclub singer, where he became more and more popular. Mohammed mostly sings Tlahoun Gessesse's pop songs from the '60s / '70s, being as those are the songs that most affected him throughout his life, but it's his voice and the unique arrangements that make him so special.

He appeared briefly on Ethiopiques 2 but this is his first proper full length. The first track here is a mindblower. The music is so squiggly and complex, so dense and tangled, angular b.......
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