Track Listing

1. Masenqo
2. Cha Cha
3. Addis Black Widow
4. Mulatu
5. Blue Nile
6. Esketa Dance
7. Chik Chikka
8. Live from Tiger Lounge [Live]
9. Chinese New Year
10. Phantom of the Panther
11. Dewel
12. Fire in the Zoo
13. Epic Story
14. Anglo Ethio Suite

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #14639 in Music
• Released on: 2009-04-14
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

Album Description
The third in STRUT's Inspiration Information studio collaboration series brings together an intriguing pairing between one of Africa's greatest and most innovative bandleaders, MULATU ASTATKE, with the next level musicianship of THE HELIOCENTRICS collective from the mighty roster of STONES THROW / NOW AGAIN.Known primarily through the successful 'Ethiopiques' album series and the film soundtrack to JIM JARMUSCH's 'Broken Flowers', Mulatu Astatke is one of Ethiopia's foremost musical ambassadors. His selfstyled Ethio-jazz sound flourished during the "Swinging Addis" era of the late '60s as he successfully fused Western jazz and funk with traditional Ethiopian folk melodies. The Heliocentrics have become known as one of the UK's foremost free-thinking collectives of musicians, inspired by a wide palette covering SUN RA, JAMES BROWN, DAVID AXELROD and all manner of psych, Afro and Eastern sounds. The collective have featured on records by MADLIB and DJ SHADOW and are now a fixture within the Stones Throw / Now Again roster, they forged their own genre-breaking directions in the astral analogue groove on their 2007 debut album, 'Out There'.

Customer Reviews

Innovative music
I work with music for a living. I read a lot of reviews. This album is a true sleeper. It should be getting more press than it is. It will easily be on my top 10 list this year. Buy it! Support quality music!

I'm so glad this didn't suck
Like most folks looking for more stuff from Mulatu after seeing "Broken Flowers", I was excited to find this. It's exactly where my brain wants to be right now. Amazon should really get some sample tracks up.

good and interesting; creates a certain vibe
I heard about this album on NPR and bought it on impulse. I am really glad I did. This is a really interesting album that melds experimental, fusion and world music in a really interesting and yet accesible way. I love the horn work. The entire album creates this certain vibe that is cool and hip. Well worth the money for something different but not so out there that you can't relate. Perfect for someone expanding their listening horizons.