Ethiopia Super Krar

The stripped-down acoustic approach taken here seems primed to deliver a raw yet updated, blast of Ethiopian blues, focusing as it does on the six-string krar (lyre), rocking kebero drums, and the vocals of Temesgen Zeleke and Genet Assefa (with the occasional dash of one-stringed messenqo fiddle and washint flute). But whether it’s the constrictions of the studio or just the difficulty of capturing their live energy to tape, Ethiopia Super Krar doesn’t quite take off and soar in the way you suspect the band would like. A slight over-egging of reverb on the vocals also breaks any illusion that this is a faithful facsimile of them live in the flesh.

There are hints of what that might be like, such as the closing half of ‘Oromigna,’ where the groove coalesces beautifully and surges up a gear, as well as the angular ‘Wello’ The intelligently arranged ‘Mr Astatke’ also shows off the band at their best, with a spacious krar solo and soaring washint part. Overall, though, it proves a somewhat frustrating listen. It’s easy to see the ample potential of the trio, but the album largely confirms that it is the live stage that is the optimum place to experience the band for the time being.