Ernesto Chahoud Presents Taitu: Soul-Fuelled Stompers from 1960s – 1970s Ethiopia

All the tracks on Taitu are lifted from original 45s from Ernesto Chahoud’s record collection, giving the record a lovely, earthy, warm feel to it. The compilation, curated by the Lebanese DJ and crate digger, includes typically Ethiopian horn-driven melodies, soaring vocals, and funky stompers by Ethiopian greats such as Mulatu Astatke and Alemayehu Eshete, but perhaps even more interesting are the tracks by lesser-known artists. Listening to the soulful groove of “Ewnetegna Feker” by Hirut Bekele, Bezunesh Bekele’s swinging “Felagote” and the irresistible funk of Birkineh Wurga’s “Alkedashim,” it’s easy to imagine the heady atmospheres of Swinging Addis, back when Addis’s clubs and hotel bands were in full swing.