Artists
who's who and who's doing what? Krar Collective 
line up
- Genet Assefa (Vocals)
- Robel Taye (Drums, Vocals)
- Temesgen Taraken (Krar, Vocals)
- country:Ethiopia
- style(s):Folk World
- label:
- type:Band
- gender:male, female
- instrumentation:instrumental, vocal
- artist submitted by:
Saturday 29/10/11 14:15 | Forum Copenhagen: Daycase Stage
Electric traditions from Ethiopian power trio, plugging in the krar and rocking their roots
It is said that the Ethiopian lyre, the krar, is one of the last active descendents of an instrument exported by Semitic nomads to ancient Egypt and beyond over four thousand years ago. It is certain that it's never before sounded quite like it does when Temesgen Taraken plugs it in, pumps it up and hammers out a hypnotic groove as if it were an ancient rock guitar. Four kebero tom drums kick in with their grooving lilt and Genet Assefa lets loose with powerful, soaring vocals, you may be looking twice to make sure this big sound is really being created by just three people. Playing traditional songs from different regions of Ethiopia, making a direct connection to these roots with a contemporary attitude that gets their audience participating in the party, as fRoots magazine enthused: "Krar Collective rock"
"I never expected to find this Ethiopian music gem hidden away in London. Krar Collective manage to achieve the right balance between the rawness of their roots and the subtleties of their innovative spirit. Precise without being too academic, funky without being too loose.
I was really impressed."
Andy Morgan, former manager of Tinariwen
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