His first studio album in over 10 years, Mulatu Plays Mulatu sees gash Mulatu Astatke revisiting a lifetime of work, bringing a fresh perspective to some of his most celebrated compositions while paying homage to the musicians and traditional sounds that laid the foundations.

From the moment you put the needle on the record you hear the distinctive sound of the begena, grounding the album firmly in Ethiopian musical tradition, which is woven throughout with use of the krar, masenqo, washint and kebero.

It’s great to see one of our much loved artists, Dexter Story, responsible for producing the entire album, his touch is unmistakable. The record also features another personal favourite, the super talented Kibrom Birhane, alongside Carlos Niño.

A significant and deeply felt album, Mulatu Plays Mulatu accompanied Mulatu’s recent ‘farewell tour’, though we suspect he’s not done yet.