1. Tsegué-Maryam GuèbrouÉthiopiques 21: Piano Solo
I started getting into the Éthiopiques catalogue a couple of years ago, and now I think I actually have the whole set. It’s all really great, and I really love that music. It really resonates with me: the modes and the scales that are in use and the instrumentation, the way the vocals sounds. There’s just a certain spirit to that body of music – everything from the really older stuff on traditional instruments, like on the The Harp Of King David – to the jazzier, funkier stuff, which I really love. I picked this record in particular though because it’s just really sublime. It’s this really beautiful piano record. This woman was a nun, and also an incredible pianist and composer. I don’t know if you’ve heard it, but all you have to do is listen to it. It’s that kind of thing that’s just totally universal, I just totally can’t imagine anybody not enjoying that music. Sometimes you hear music and you feel like you’ve known it forever. This was a favourite to put on when I came back from tour; it’s a great record to welcome yourself home with.
