Kabu (album) – Wikipedia

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1991 studio album by Aster Aweke

Kabu is the second album by the Ethiopian singer Aster Aweke.[1][2] It was released in 1991 via Columbia Records.[3]

The album peaked at No. 4 on Billboard’s World Music chart.[4]

Production[edit]

The Washington D.C.-based Aweke sang the song lyrics in her native Amharic language.[5] The album was produced by Iain Scott and Bunt Stafford Clark.[6] Aweke mixed soul music sounds with Ethiopian instruments, including the krar.[7]

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Critical reception[edit]

Trouser Press deemed the album “heavy on midtempo grooves and ballads,” writing that “the synthesizer on ‘Kabu (Sacred Rock)’ mimics a bass kalimba while Aweke’s vocals swoop and soar like a hummingbird.”[13]Spin called it “mildly disappointing,” but praised Aweke’s voice for cutting through the “snooty” production.[14]Entertainment Weekly thought that “Kabu broadens the U.S.-based singer’s range with tight waves of fusion-based rock over which she can madly surf.”[12]Robert Christgau singled out “Yedi Gosh (My Guy)” for praise.[10]

The New York Times wrote that Aweke’s “voice, thin, but sure and pliable, weaves in and around, stenciling delicate melodies against the band.”[5] The Calgary Herald determined that “the horn charts are brash and brassy while the marimbas, shakers and bass convey a sense of the primal.”[9]Stereo Review concluded that “Aweke unleashes her inner self, uttering oddly twisted wails and singing intricately elaborated melodic lines that can be as lovely as a piece of lace or as tough as a spider’s web.”[15]The Province opined that “Aweke sounds more sure of her direction and more at home in music that also is a happier blend of her roots and North American pop and jazz.”[16]

AllMusic wrote that “Aweke’s voice sounds even earthier and more passionate than on her debut album.”[8]

Track listing[edit]

Title
1. “Yedi Gosh (My Guy)”  
2. “Yas-Oh (Grab It, Get It On)”  
3. “Kabu (Sacred Rock)”  
4. “Kezira”  
5. “Bati”  
6. “Tchewata (Romance)”  
7. “Eyoha”  
8. “Bitchengna (Loneliness)”  

References[edit]

  1. ^ “Aster Aweke Biography, Songs, & Albums”. AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2021-04-28. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  2. ^ Dorian, Frederick; Duane, Orla; McConnachie, James (October 4, 1999). “World Music: Africa, Europe and the Middle East”. Rough Guides. Archived from the original on October 4, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ Thompson, Clifford (October 7, 2020). “Contemporary World Musicians”. Routledge. Archived from the original on October 4, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ “Ballads from Africa”. Chicago Tribune. WOMANEWS. 6 Sep 1992. p. 2.
  5. ^ a b Watrous, Peter (November 13, 1991). “The Pop Life”. Archived from the original on October 23, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021 – via NYTimes.com.
  6. ^ “Album Reviews — Kabu by Aster Aweke”. Billboard. 103 (43): 82. Oct 26, 1991.
  7. ^ Joyce, Mike (27 Dec 1991). “Evocative Aweke’s Ethiopian/D.C. Soul”. The Washington Post. p. N11.
  8. ^ a b “Kabu – Aster Aweke | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic”. Archived from the original on 2021-10-04. Retrieved 2021-10-04 – via www.allmusic.com.
  9. ^ a b Wagamese, Richard (26 Nov 1991). “RECORDINGS”. Calgary Herald. p. C6.
  10. ^ a b “Robert Christgau: CG: Aster Aweke”. www.robertchristgau.com. Archived from the original on 2021-10-04. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  11. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 1. MUZE. p. 319.
  12. ^ a b “Kabu”. EW.com. Archived from the original on 2021-10-04. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  13. ^ “Aster Aweke”. Trouser Press. Archived from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  14. ^ Gehr, Richard (Nov 1991). “Spins”. Spin. 7 (8): 108.
  15. ^ Garland, Phyl (Mar 1992). “Popular Music — Kabu by Aster Aweke”. Stereo Review. 57 (3): 71.
  16. ^ Harrison, Tom (3 Apr 1992). “TALKIN’ ‘BOUT YEDI GOSH”. The Province. p. C3.


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