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LP
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TBLP 021LP
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2017 repress. LP version. Gatefold sleeve. Includes printed insert and download code. Ethiopian minimal wave from 1986. Teranga Beat presents Yishak Banjaw's first international release. Yishak Banjaw is a composer and keyboard player from Addis Ababa known to his country for his innovative compositions and unique sound. His ability to transform traditional Ethiopian songs into spacey minimal-wave gems creates an ultra-hypnotic and psychedelic atmosphere. Love Songs Vol. 2 was recorded in 1986 at Yishak's house, while he was working for the Police Band in Eritrea. It was released by an Eritrean label on cassette and was also distributed in Ethiopia. However, due to the shaky political situation, Yishak was forbidden to travel anywhere outside his country, including Ethiopia. Consequently, Love Songs Vol. 2 remained a very obscure and neglected musical experiment, until now. Yishak has released seven albums on cassette but, unlike many Ethiopian musicians, he has never managed to reach a wider and international audience. On this album, Yishak Banjaw chose to play everything on a small Casio PT, "a keyboard for kids" as he proudly mentions. He recorded the whole album live, directly to his tape recorder. Although his main instrument was a Godwin keyboard, he actually preferred to rent the Casio from a friend, as he was blown away by the way it sounded. This choice alone reveals a genuine talent that dared to go beyond what his colleagues were doing at that time.
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CD
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TBCD 021CD
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Ethiopian minimal wave from 1986. Teranga Beat presents Yishak Banjaw's first international release. Yishak Banjaw is a composer and keyboard player from Addis Ababa known to his country for his innovative compositions and unique sound. His ability to transform traditional Ethiopian songs into spacey minimal-wave gems creates an ultra-hypnotic and psychedelic atmosphere. Love Songs Vol. 2 was recorded in 1986 at Yishak's house, while he was working for the Police Band in Eritrea. It was released by an Eritrean label on cassette and was also distributed in Ethiopia. However, due to the shaky political situation, Yishak was forbidden to travel anywhere outside his country, including Ethiopia. Consequently, Love Songs Vol. 2 remained a very obscure and neglected musical experiment, until now. Yishak has released seven albums on cassette but, unlike many Ethiopian musicians, he has never managed to reach a wider and international audience. On this album, Yishak Banjaw chose to play everything on a small Casio PT, "a keyboard for kids" as he proudly mentions. He recorded the whole album live, directly to his tape recorder. Although his main instrument was a Godwin keyboard, he actually preferred to rent the Casio from a friend, as he was blown away by the way it sounded. This choice alone reveals a genuine talent that dared to go beyond what his colleagues were doing at that time. CD version includes a booklet with photos and liner notes outlining the story of this unique musician who carried the long tradition of Ethiopia into another level.
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