Wede Harer Guzo
Ten instrumentals recorded in three days; reissued on vinyl in 2016.
Hailu Mergia & Dahlak Band, 1978
Bandcamp credits Mergia on organ, Dawit Yifru on electric piano, Abera Feyissa on bass, Tesfaye Tessema on drums, Dawit Kassa on guitar, Tilaye Gebre on saxophone, Shimels Beyene on trumpet and Muluken Melesse and Rida Ibrahim on vocals, with all songs arranged by Mergia. The arrangements replace vocal melodies with instrumental lines, drawing on popular songs listeners already knew. Mergia told FACT the choir parts and the improvisation are what makes it stand out, and that two of the compositions are his own, "Sintayehu" and "Minlbelesh". A 1978 session under the Derg's midnight to 6am curfew meant clubs stayed full until the curfew ended.
Afropop's Sebastian Bouknight praised the guitar on "Bati Bati" and heard a lo-fi sound that lends the music a feeling of times past; Crack Magazine described atmospheric instrumentals and hushed delicacies. The reissue is dated June 16 (Bandcamp) or June 17, 2016.
Track listing
- Embuwa Bey Lamitu6:05
- Sintayehu6:48
- Bati Bati7:04
- Migibima Moltual6:26
- Yene Nesh Wey (Amalele)4:38
- Wede Harer Guzo6:35
- Yemanesh Ayinama7:11
- Almaz Eyasebkush5:40
- Anchin Kifu Ayinkash5:24
- Minilbelsh5:57
Sources
- Hailu Mergia & Dahlak Band, Wede Harer Guzo, Awesome Tapes From Africa
- Wede Harer Guzo, Bandcamp
- Hailu Mergia, Wede Harer Guzo, Afropop Worldwide (2016)