urban ethiopian music stands out within the african continent thanks to its creativity and originality. whatever the shade - pop, blues, jazz or soul - it comes from a fusion of local musical traditions mixed with an echo of western music. it bewitched ethiopia during the swinging addis decade before recently winning the favours of a well-informed audience all over the world. this first vinyl volume of *ethiopian urban modern music* presents a selection of the more funkier ethiopian tracks, drawn from the essential ethiopiques cd series directed by francis falceto and published by buda music.