Debo Band- Ere Gobez (2016)

Debo Band- Ere Gobez (2016)

By: Ghost Writer

Millenary Ethiopia may not be only be  holding big secrets about the origins of humanity, but also big secrets about the future of rock, bands like the legendary Dutch band The Ex, a band who surely may have something important to say about the current migrant crisis in Europe, Radiohead, or the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

No, this are not the Devo band you might know from the 80s, as these guys known as the Debo Band, original homeland is precisely the cradle of humanity, Ethiopia, now located in Boston, USA, creating here a mind blowing conjunction of solid afro rock n roll, pile driving funk and ethio-jazz, in a record full of incredible moving music impossible to remain indifferent at it.

Opener Ele quickly shakes things up with its relentless drumming, solid bass playing and furious brass section, and impressive and passionate song thanks to the commanding performance by singer Bruck Tesfaye, the song is an awesome entree that bone would wish it keep rocking forever, but things don't stop there, as following song Kehulum Abliche depends more on its dazzling bass work, a more intricate structure and the bands piercing metals blowing it in an awesome way.

Jegoul Naw Betwa has a prominent garage rock band influence and puts quickly in display crunchy guitar riffs and flying high guitar solos, reminding us of what good rock n roll is all about, but is in the totally unbelievable Blue Awaze where the band reaches their best on a perfect conjunction of afro rock, Mulatu Astake like jazz and 60s psychedelia, with superb bass arrangements, inventive guitars and leading saxophone, while on Goraw again jagged age again steal the spotlight, in a tune that displays great Saharian influence in the cadence of its beats.

The thunderous nature of Nigerian Afro Beat might possibly be a big influence on the resounding Oromo, a powerful and devastating tour de force with truly brutal drum playing and tribalistic brass playing with the players performing as if their lives depend on it.

The great thing about Ere Gobez is that is not only a great Ethio Rock record, but the fact that is an amazing rock n roll record, one of performers who fully embrace freedom in order to create powerful and moving music, music for the soul and for the body, great music that defies categorization, nationality or genre, is an ambitious attempt at making free music, and the soul thanks that.