Yene Alem

The collaboration between Ethiopian singer Etenesh Wassie and the French bass guitarist Mathieu Sourisseau has already yielded one album back in 2010, Belo Belo (reviewed in #74). Now the duo have invited along the French cellist Julie Läderach to join them on their latest release, Yene Alem.

The interplay between voice, cello and bass creates an atmosphere that is stark yet intimate, and always intense. It's serious stuff, but that's not to say it's inward-looking. Yene Alem mixes the classical and folk music of Europe with avant-garde rock and free jazz and always works in complete sympathy with the age-old qañat, scales and melodies of Ethiopia's azmari(bards). The trio get funky when they need to, but they’re not afraid to unsettle your ears, either.

The size and make-up of the ensemble doesn’t really give too much scope for variation in texture – a range of electronic effects on Sourisseau's acoustic bass notwithstanding – and a few more contrasts would be welcome. But that does not take away from the otherwise very nourishing music: this is food for the ears and the mind.