Ayalew Mesfin stands aside the likes of Mulatu Astake, Mahmoud Ahmed, Hailu Mergiaand Alemayehu Eshete as a legend of 1970s Ethiopia. Mesfin’s music is some of thefunkiest to arise from this unconquerable East African nation.

Mesfin’s recording career, captured in nearly two dozen 7” singles and numerousreel-to-reel tapes, shows the strata of the most fertile decade in Ethiopia’s 20th centuryrecording industry, when records were pressed constantly by both independent upstartsand corporate behemoths, even if they were only distributed within the confines of thisEast African nation.

Though Mesfin was forced underground by the Derg regime that took control of Ethiopiain 1974, he has returned almost 50 years later with this triumphant set albums – the firsttime that his music has been presented in this form.

Tewedije Limut gives us a chance to discover a rare & beautiful moment in music history,in an anthology built from his uber-rare 7” single releases.

• 1. Tewedije Limut (Let Me Die Loved)
• 2. Mot Aykerim (You Can't Cheat Death)
• 3. Shuferu (the Driver)
• 4. Libe Dil Temeta (My Heart is Conquered)
• 5. Gora Weshebaye (the Mountain Hero)
• 6. Anchi Yefikir Taot (You Are Love)
• 7. Megen Anchi Hoye (Your Amazing Self)
• 8. Mot Aykerim (You Can't Cheat Death Alternate Take)
• 9. Weyolachew (I'm Warning You)
• 10. Erikew Sihedu (When Distance Arises)
• 11. Yetizitash Simet (the Feelings of Your Memory)
• 12. Yedilu Shema (Victory Torch)