Kuku Sebsibe · Ethiopia · 1982 · Electra Music Shop

With this new release from Cassette pirata, we travel to Ethiopia to meet Kuku Sebsibe (or Sebsebe, depending on the transliteration).

The album I am presenting is an original edition of the cassette simply titled “Kuku Sebsibe”, originally released in 1982. This album represents the singer’s debut and was recorded together with the Roha Band. At the time, it was released exclusively in cassette format by the Electra Music Shop label in Addis Ababa.

The tracks included, such as Fiqir Ke Hager Lij New and Tizita, became classics of Ethiopian music during those years, so much so that the album has been recently rediscovered and reissued on vinyl by international labels for its historical and artistic value.

The tracks in .flac format were recorded directly from the original cassette using Audacity. Some tracks show the effects of time and demagnetization. Interestingly, on Side A, there is one extra track compared to the five listed on the cover. Labels like Electra tended to fill the tapes (C-60 or C-90) until the last available minute. If there was space on the tape after the fifth track of Side A, they would add an extra song without necessarily updating the cover layout, which was mass-printed.

Enjoy the listening!

To download all tracks in high quality: archive.org/details/kuku-sebsibe-1982-a

Copertine

Tracce

Side A (ሀ)

1. አይዞህ ደንበኛ (Aizoh Denbegna) – Hang in there, regular customer
2. ፍቅር ከአገር ልጅ ነው (Fiqir Ke Hager Lij New) – Love is from a compatriot
3. ይውደዱኝ ሠፈር (Yewdedugn Sefer) – Let the neighborhood love me
4. ደሞ ደሞ (Demo Demo) – Again and Again
5. ርቀት ወዳጅ (Riqet Wedaj) – Long-distance lover

Side B (ለ)

1. ዓለም በጋ (Alem Bega) – The world is bright (Summer)
2. ብትመጣስ ብለህ (Bitmetas Bileh) – What if you were to come?
3. ትዝታ (Tizita) – Nostalgia / Memory
4. ፍቅሬህን አንቃ (Fiqrehin Anqa) – Awaken your love
5. አይደል መውደድ (Aydel Mewded) – Isn’t this loving?

Ascolta

Side A

አይዞህ ደንበኛ (Aizoh Denbegna) – Hang in there, regular customer

ፍቅር ከአገር ልጅ ነው (Fiqir Ke Hager Lij New) – Love is from a compatriot

ይውደዱኝ ሠፈር (Yewdedugn Sefer) – Let the neighborhood love me

ደሞ ደሞ (Demo Demo) – Again and Again

ርቀት ወዳጅ (Riqet Wedaj) – Long-distance lover

Unknown Song

Side B

ዓለም በጋ (Alem Bega) – The world is bright (Summer)

ብትመጣስ ብለህ (Bitmetas Bileh) – What if you were to come?

ትዝታ (Tizita) – Nostalgia / Memory

ፍቅሬህን አንቃ (Fiqrehin Anqa) – Awaken your love

አይደል መውደድ (Aydel Mewded) – Isn’t this loving?

#ethiopia #etiopia #music #musica

Dawit “Messay” Mellesse · Anchin New · Ethiopia · 1999 · AIT Records

The album “Anchin New” by Dawit “Messay” Mellesse, released in 1999, represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of Ethio-pop at the turn of the millennium. It is not just a collection of songs, but a technological and cultural bridge between the traditions of Addis Ababa and modern international production.

1. The Encounter of Two Eras: Roha Band and Abegasu

The album is unique because it features a collaboration between two different creative forces:

• The Roha Band: The legendary band that dominated Ethiopian music throughout the 1980s and early 90s. Their style is rooted in a more “organic” and traditional sound.
• Abegasu Kibrework Shiota: A visionary producer who introduced modern keyboards, synthesizers, and high-level recording standards (working between New York and Ethiopia). The alternation of tracks between these two production styles creates a perfect balance between the warmth of the classic sound and the polished feel of modern pop.

2. A Distinctive Vocal Style

Dawit Mellesse is known for a voice capable of adapting to both melancholic ballads and upbeat rhythms. In this album, the title track Anchin New became an instant classic due to its catchy melody and the way it utilizes the Ethiopian pentatonic scale within an almost R&B context.

3. “International” Production Quality

Unlike many cassettes produced entirely in Addis Ababa with limited resources at the time, this album was:

• Recorded and mixed in New York (Soul-Life Studios).
• Digitally mastered in Virginia. This ensured superior sound quality, allowing Ethiopian music to sound “competitive” even on the high-end stereo systems of the diaspora in the United States and Europe.

4. The Role of AIT Records

The AIT Records label (owned by Aman Adinew) played a crucial role in professionalizing the Ethiopian music industry. This album is a symbol of their mission: to elevate local music to a global standard, meticulously overseeing not only the sound but also the aesthetics of the cover art and distribution.

5. Cultural Insights and Song Titles

Many tracks, such as Webe Keremela or Suse Nesh, use very colloquial and “sweet” language typical of the era’s courtship style. While the album is modern, it remains deeply connected to its roots; for instance, the track Bati references one of the most ancient and important musical scales in Ethiopia.

Copertine

Tracce

Side A

1. Bichashn – You Alone
2. Anchin New – It Is You / You Are The One
3. Kunjina – Beauty / Loveliness
4. Yagere Lij – Girl of My Country / My Compatriot
5. Ayisemashim – You Don’t Hear Me / You Won’t Listen
6. Sela Bey – Say “Sela”

Side B

1. Min Yishalegnal – What Is Best For Me? / What Should I Do?
2. Rabew Aynen – My Eyes Are Hungry (To see you)
3. Suse Nesh – You Are My Addiction / My Obsession
4. Diresh Kedega – Come From The Highlands
5. Webe Keremela – Beautiful Candy
6. Alchalkum – I Can’t Go On / I Can’t Endure It

Ascolta

Side A

01 · ብቻሽን · You Alone

02 · አንቺን ነው · You Are The One

03 · ቁንጅና · Beauty

04 · ያገሬ ልጅ · Girl of My Country

05 · አይሰማሽም · you Wont Listen

Side B

01 · ምን ይሻለኛል · What Is Best For Me?

02 · ራበው አይኔን · My Eyes Are Hungry (To see you)

03 · ሱሴ ነሽ · You Are My Addiction

04 · ድረሽ ከደጋ · Come From The Highlands

05 · አልቻልኩም · I Cant Endure It

Crediti

• Artist: Dawit “Messay” Mellesse
• Album Title: Anchin New (Translated as: “It is You” or “You Are The One”)
• Record Label: AIT Records
• Release Year: © 1999 DM (Dawit Mellesse) / AIT Records

Production and Technical Credits

The album features collaborations with prominent musicians from the Ethiopian scene:

• Production and Arrangements: Abegasu Kibrework Shiota (worked on tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, and 9) and the Roha Band.
• Original Rhythm Programming: Elias Bekele (tracks 1, 4, 7, 8, and 9).
• Keyboards: Fasil Wuhib (tracks 2, 4, 5, and 8).
• Executive Production: Aman Adinew.
• Recording and Mixing: Abegasu Kibrework Shiota at “Soul-Life Studios” in New York.
• Digital Mastering: Charlie Pilzer at “Airshow Mastering, Inc.” in Springfield, VA.

#cassette #ethiopia #ethiopop #musica #release