Mahmoud Ahmed

More genre-straddling Ethiopian music from the Ethiopiques series, this time focussing on shoeshine boy turned singing star Mahmoud Ahmed, whose unique blend of afro-beat rhythms and Arabic blues makes for an unexpected treat. Ahmed started out as what Ethiopiques curator Franic Falceto describes as a "street urchin", only to work his way up to become one of his homeland's biggest celebrities. Ahmed's minor-key soul is characterised by a cross-pollination of Eastern and Western styles (as is the case with this week's other two Ethiopiques releases) and takes on some of the Latin-American influences imported by his countryman Mulatu Astatke back in the late '60s.

TRACKS:

• SIDE A
• 01. Abay Mado
• 02. Imbwa Belew
• 03. Atawurulign Lela
• 04. Tizita
• 05. Ohoho Gedama

• SIDE B
• 01. Ibakesh Tarekign
• 02. Ere Mela Melav
• 03. Meche Neu
• 04. Sidetegnash Negn
• 05. Samiraye
• 06. Indenesh Gedaow