Ayalèw Mesfin - Hasabe (My Worries)
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Wednesday, February 28, 2018
Happy Last Day of Black History month Y'all
Let me put you on to this beautiful release from Vinyl Me, Please. The February Record of the Month 'Hasabe' also known as 'My Worries' is the first official compilation of Ayalew Mesfin's music. In the 70's Ayalew, an Ethiopian Funk legend, was jailed and banned from creating music. He was seen as a threat to the country's communist regime, his music along with Ayalew was locked away. Now after more than 40 years, his music is now being released to the world thanks to Vinyl Me, Please.
Coming home to the slightly marble looking raspberry pressing was a delight. Everything about this package is spectacular. From each track having been pulled from Ayalew's own collection of singles, to the in-depth photo booklet and liner notes. You can tell that the contents of this month's record were thought out. Spinning this for the first time I focus mostly on the emotions it invoked. Not because I had no clue what Ayalew had been singing (which was valid), but because I wanted to be fully submerged into an album generated in an entirely different era. One of my favorite tracks from the album is probably Libe Menta Hone (My Divided Heart). It's a track so funky you can't help but to bob your head or move your feet. To be honest this entire compilation is captivating.
I am appreciative of the fact that a record like this, which holds so much historical and cultural value, was released on Black History Month. Looking back at past VMP releases for February, 'Hasabe' shares great company. Main Source's 'Breaking Atoms' and Big Bill Broonzy's 'Big Bill Broonzy Sings Folk Songs have been the releases years prior. These releases have shed light on albums that have been overlooked yet culturally significant. Sure, they could have just dropped some ol' regular degular shmegular (shout out to Cardi) hip-hop release, but they didn't. For black history month for the past three years, they've put time and effort into these releases, and they have been handled with TLC.
As a member month becomes exciting to see Vinyl Me, Please try and outdo themselves. Check out their site here if you haven't already.
