Originally released by Kaifa Records in 1975, Erè Mèla Mèla launched Mahmoud Ahmed on the international stage when it was re-released by Crammed Discs in 1986, thanks mostly to its sinewy, dramatic title track. There is something about Ahmed’s voice that is so incredibly commanding it’s impossible not to be drawn in, whether it makes you dance or cry. Ahmed in fact is mostly known for his Tizita, the slow, melancholic Ethiopian style purposefully composed to elicit strong emotions. This stirring version of “Tizita” was recorded only shortly after the revolution, conveying a profound sense of loss and nostalgia.

– Megan Iacobini de Fazio