The Ex is an underground band from the Netherlands,started in 1979 at the height of the original punk explosion as a Dutch punk band. The Ex originated from the squatting movement in Amsterdam and Wormer,and was inspired by bands like The Fall and The Mekons. Although initially known as an anarcho-punk band associated with the Dutch post-punk ultra scene,over the decades The Ex's sound has gradually developed into its current form of highly intricate,experimental punk/post-punk/no wave-inspired work. This sound includes a combination of diverse genres and styles,such as noise,folk,world music,free jazz,and crossovers between these genres. Other examples of branching out stylistically include the improvised double album Instant and a release under the moniker Ex Orkest,a 20 piece big band assembled for performances at Holland Festival. "One reason we are hard to describe is that we never had an education at music school,and in that sense we are not influenced by any traditional playing," explained Katherina Bornefeld,drummer for The Ex since 1984. The Ex's lyrics consist of straightforward statements about politics and abuses in society. The band enjoys international acclaim for this socially critical message,as well as for the energetic,rhythmic,atonal guitar playing,and for the furious vocals of singer G.W. Sok,who was replaced in recent years by Arnold de Boer of the duo Zea. The Ex have released over 20 full-length albums.
Éthiopiques is a series of compact discs featuring Ethiopian singers and musicians. Many of the CDs compile songs from various singles and albums that Amha Records,Kaifa Records and Philips-Ethiopia released during the 1960s and 1970s in Ethiopia. Prominent singers and musicians from this era appearing on Éthiopiques releases include Alemayehu Eshete,Asnaketch Worku,Mahmoud Ahmed,Mulatu Astatke and Tilahun Gessesse. However,some other releases contain new recordings.
Mulatu Astatke is an Ethiopian musician and arranger considered as the father of "Ethio-jazz".
Dog Faced Hermans were a post-punk band that formed in Scotland in the mid 1980s and remained active through the mid 1990s. They emerged from the UK anarcho-punk scene with a guitar/bass/drums line-up,but also incorporated trumpet and other instruments not commonly found in punk music at that time. Their composition style incorporated many genres of music outside of rock,including folk,jazz,ambient and noise music with often unorthodox instrumentation.
The Either/Orchestra (E/O) is a jazz group formed by Russ Gershon in Cambridge,Massachusetts,US,in 1985. E/O is configured as a "small big band",with three saxes,two trumpets and one or two trombones. E/O's is characterized by a heavier and more orchestrated sound than that of a smaller jazz combo,but remains more streamlined and improvisation-oriented than most big bands.
Turn is a double album by Dutch anarchist post-punk band The Ex. After 20 years of working with Luc,their former bass guitarist,Turn is the only Ex album to feature double bass player Rosemarie giving the band a sound akin their prior work with cellist Tom Cora. In tandem with The Ex's drummer Katrin,Rosemarie also contributed significant female vocal harmonies to the album.
Getatchew Mekurya was an Ethiopian jazz saxophonist.
Search Engine was a weekly Canadian radio show that aired on CBC Radio One,then as a dedicated podcast distributed by the CBC and finally by TVOntario. It was hosted by Jesse Brown,who also co-produced the show with Geoff Siskind and Andrew Parker. Cory Doctorow,novelist and editor of Boing Boing,was also a regular contributor. The program explored the effects of the Internet on politics and culture. The show has focused on stories involving copyright,video games,and China,as well as the social impact and technology surrounding them.
Mr. Something Something was a Canadian Afrobeat collective,based in Toronto,Ontario. The band consists of five permanent members,including percussionist Larry Graves,tenor saxophonist John MacLean,guitarist Paul MacDougall,bassist Liam Smith and lead singer Johan Hultqvist,as well as loosely affiliated musicians,including jazz musicians such as Kevin Turcotte,Richard Underhill and Brian O'Kane. The band is known for their bicycle-powered outdoor concerts. Their songs often contained political content.
Buda Musique is a French record label specializing in world music. It was founded in 1987 by Gilles Fruchaux and Dominique Buscall. After Buscall died in 1990,Fruchaux became the sole owner. The label is especially known for its Éthiopiques series.
Walias Band were an Ethiopian jazz and funk band active from the early 1970s until the early 1990s. Formed by members of the Venus Band,Walias backed up many prominent singers with a hard polyrhythmic funk sound influenced by western artists like King Curtis,Junior Walker and Maceo Parker. In 1977 they recorded one of the few albums of Ethiopian instrumental music in collaboration with vibraphonist Mulatu Astatke,whose role as a bandleader and composer was also a major influence on Ethiopian popular music.
Y'Anbessaw Tezeta is the second studio album by Ethiopian tenor saxophone player Getatchew Mekuria in collaboration with Dutch punk rock band The Ex and several other musicians. The title is Amharic for "The Memory of the Lion" and Mekurya intended the record to mark the closure of his 65-year career.
Enormous Door is an album by Dutch post-punk band The Ex and Brass Unbound,a quartet of horn players hailing from four different countries. The album was released in 2013 on The Ex's own label,comprising reworked versions of previously released songs and alongside entirely new material.
The Ex are a Dutch music group from Amsterdam founded in 1979. In their four decades as a band,they have moved from playing anarcho punk to post punk,jazz,folk and African music. They have collaborated on records with fellow indie musicians Chumbawamba,Dog Faced Hermans,Tortoise and Sonic Youth,improvisers like Tom Cora and the Instant Composers Pool,and toured with African musicians Konono Nº1 and Getatchew Mekurya.
Fendika is an Ethiopian music group based in Addis Ababa. Led by dancer/choreographer Melaku Belay,they operate a venue,tour,record,and perform under the name Fendika.
Debo Band are a Boston-based Ethiopian music band led by saxophonist Danny Mekonnen and fronted by vocalist Bruck Tesfaye. Ranging from 10–12 members playing horns,guitars,violins,percussion,and accordion,their sound incorporates Ethiojazz,folk,and pop styles from the Horn of Africa infused with tinges of motifs from Eastern Europe and Asia,as well as punk,experimental,and psychedelic rock. Rolling Stone described Debo's sound as,"guitar solos,massed vocals,violin and brass [that] rush in like a Red Bulled marching band...Dance at your own risk."
27 passports is a 2018 album by the Dutch band The Ex. It is the group's first studio album in five years since Enormous Door,their 2013 collaboration with Brass Unbound,and The Ex's first album of all new material since 2010's Catch My Shoe.
Brodie West is a Canadian alto saxophonist who has worked with The Ex,Getatchew Mekuria,Sandro Perri,Lina Allemano,Hamid Drake and Gord Downie.
The Ethiopian Golden Age of Music was an era of Ethiopian music that began around the 1960s to 1970s,until the Derg regime progressively diminished its presence through politically motivated persecutions and retributions against musicians and companies,which left many to self-imposed exile to North America and Europe. Several artists and musical companies,as well as recording groups,emerged to produce their own singles and albums;the first being Amha Records,and Philips Records,Ethiopia Records and Kaifa Records,which is primarily based in Addis Ababa.
