Cat No 860106

The ever-amazing, critically acclaimed Ethiopiques series marches on as strongly as ever with volume 19, devoted to further material from one of the key figures of modern Ethiopian music, Mahmoud Ahmed. Volumes 1,6 & 7 have already documented his output., with additional tracks on the compilation volumes 3 & 10. He is regarded by many as one of the greatest African singers of all-time. These recordings are from 1974, backed by the Ibex Band and were originally released on the famous Amha label. At least 2 further volumes of his recordings are planned. He is still performing, and hopefully intending to record new material.With his haunting, serpentine voice, at the same time raucous and velvety, Mahmoud Ahmed has invented a world of uncertain borders, an improbable mix of Eastern-African rhythmic lines, mysterious laments with refined ornamentation and melodies of unexpected Indian modulation; all this streaked by electric sounds and pulsed by a hot, swaying groove spanning swing to funk and even foraying into reggae music.