Man Biye? / A Happy Disco Song, by Haile M. Ghiorgis

Man Biye? / A Happy Disco Song

by Haile M. Ghiorgis

supported by

	/

Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Purchasable with gift card

€2.90 EUR
Man Biye? / A Happy Disco Song 7" Single
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
7" vinyl single with picture sleeve. 500 copies, limited edition. Last copies! Sorry for the price!

Includes unlimited streaming of Man Biye? / A Happy Disco Song via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Sold Out

	1.	Man Biye? 03:33
	2.	A Happy Disco Song 02:57

about

Born in Ethiopia in 1952, Haile M. Ghiorgis originally worked as a music instructor after school and played music together with several prominent groups of his countrymen – he was the keyboardist of Mahmoud Ahmed & Ibex Band and played for national stars like Tilahun Gessesse, among others. Due to the communist revolution in Ethopia in 1974, Haile decided to leave his motherland and due to his blindness in 1977 he was allowed to do so. Finding a new home in Hamburg, he performed together with various bands, including the afro pop group Soulful Dynamics and Jah Love (an early band of funk drummer and reggae artists Curvin Merchant aka Jamaica Papa Curvin). When those groups disbanded, Ghiorgis was retrained as a piano-tuner but also focussed on his own music.

Haile M. Ghiorgis was particularly fascinated by the digital-controlled synthesizer and rhythm-machines, whose operation he mastered without any difficulties in spite of his blindness. The drums came from a Yamaha drum computer and were recorded first. On top of that, bass and the melodies were added. Haile was using a Yamaha DX-7 keyboard, an old small Roland synth as well as an organ by Solton.

On the album, which was recorded in his small home studio in Hamburg on a TEAC 8-track tape machine, Haile M. Ghiorgis harmoniously blends western pop and jazz music with his native country’s folklore. Our favourite track, “Man biye?” is a sort of melancholic love song – it means “What shall I call you?”. A man searches for something though in vain to compare with the beauty of his beloved. The atmospheric instrumental features brilliant synth solos over deep downtempo beats – sort of like jazzy ethno synth funk in slow motion.

Side B of the single concludes the release with an uplifting solid disco track, simply called “A Happy Disco Song”. As it says in the liner notes of the LP, the song esteems Ethiopian hospitality and relates how welcome every stranger is and how even the poorest is ready to share with him. The track has a charming “private” vibe and surely should appeal to DJs and disco/boogie aficiandos.

The original LP “Survival” was primarily sold on live shows when he was on tour in the late 1980s throughout Europe, accompaning fellow Ethopian musicians including jazz legend Mulatu Astatke, among others, and almost never pops up. Therefore, we are very happy to be able to offer you this brilliant piece of music on a fresh sounding 7” single.

Further info:
- thick high quality picture sleeve
- fully licenced release
- 500 copies, limited edition
- the album will NOT be reissued

credits

released May 5, 2017

All songs composed, arranged, recorded and produced by Haile Mariam G. Ghiorgis at Studio Bahrdahr

license

about

The Artless Cuckoo Berlin, Germany

The Artless Cuckoo is a record label and online shop from Berlin.

As a music label, The Artless Cuckoo loves discovering music from around the world in dusty record bins or on old master reels – it’s a never ending, exciting challenge. We try to re-release the best we could find, all fully licenced and packed with great care. ... more

contact / help

Contact The Artless Cuckoo

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Man Biye? / A Happy Disco Song, you may also like:

Stay Up Zimbabwe (Limited Dance Edition)
by Bro. Valentino

supported by 10 fans who also own “Man Biye? / A Happy Disco Song”

Why do you love this album? Well, it is the quality of ALL the Analog Africa releases , the astonishing presentation- artwork, AWESOME booklets, the mastering, the music first of all and the feeling you connect with it and the artists involved. Due to not earning enough I changed from vinyl to CDs, but I am glad for the high quality downloads of the vinyl only releases that you are able to burn to disc. Together with a chosen few others AA is a greater than great label. Period. Markus Bader
go to album
Under Cover Lover
by Stirling March

supported by 7 fans who also own “Man Biye? / A Happy Disco Song”
go to album
The Message (Limited Dance Edition)
by Gyedu-Blay Ambolley

supported by 7 fans who also own “Man Biye? / A Happy Disco Song”

this music got soul for shure oradur
go to album
Can You Feel It? Vol.2 Modern Soul, Disco & Boogie 1976-84
by Various Artists

featured on Bandcamp Radio Oct 1, 2019
go to album
MESSAGE FROM THE ISLANDS
by Black Pearl Records

Calypso goes boogie on this bad-ass compilation of original 1970s tropical funk and soul from sunny Trinidad & Tobago. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 8, 2016
go to album
Kutiman - Wachaga In Dub (Free Download)
by Kutiman

featured on Bandcamp Radio Dec 8, 2020
go to album
Club Meduse compiled by Charles Bals
by Various Artists

supported by 7 fans who also own “Man Biye? / A Happy Disco Song”

This compilation is just perfect for me! The record is playing non stop at my house and « Ara Macao - Canyon » non stop turning in my head for my biggest pleasure... DOPE ! Arnosunchild
go to album