Album: Imperial Tiger Orchestra, Mercato (Mental Groove)

The Ethiopiques CD series of 1970s Ethiopian funk has inspired several excellent bands over the past few years.

While Dub Colossus found reggae was a natural fit, and the Heliocentrics overlaid more of a post-rock aesthetic, these gentlemen from Switzerland have remained more loyal to their source material. But that's not to say that Mercato is purely imitative. This is intricate, punchy and wholly contemporary-sounding funk/jazz/rock of the highest order.