Thank God for Berhana's Dreams
My personal review of "Amén (The Nomad's Dream)" by Berhana
When Berhana embarked on the rollout for his visual album "Amén," he said, "Three years ago, I began listening to my dreams, now I have a story to tell."
This weekend, I stumbled across the charming album released this October. I remember some of Berhana's music from when I was in high school, but I was unaware he had released a new album. I was immediately drawn in by the introduction "Amén," which painted the backdrop of the dreamlike state presented throughout it.
The best thing about this project is the subject matter and cohesiveness of the project. At its core, "Amén" revolves around the Nomad, a fictional character conceived by Berhana which he describes as a traveler who’s able to bring a piece of home with him wherever he goes. It is a beautiful love letter to Ethiopian culture and his family. Berhana intentionally shows his appreciation down to the striking Amharic script adorning the album cover. He also honors his mother and late grandmother in the first and last tracks. The opening track depicts his mother knocking on his door and yelling, "Amain! Amain! I'm calling you!" in Amharic, which invites him to explore the album's themes of growth and acceptance through the lens of the nomad character. The voicemail from his late grandmother in the last track brings the project full circle, imparting well wishes for safe travels. His love for his culture can also be heard in the music, with him referencing the first Ethiopian Olympic gold medalist, Abebe Bikila, in track 2. One of my favorite nods to Ethiopian culture on the album is "The Nomad's Dream," a dreamy ode to Ethio-jazz.
The visuals accompanying the music are equally breathtaking, emphasizing Berhana's commitment to crafting a comprehensive narrative and universe around his album. A 15-minute short film released alongside the album was shown in limited screenings in the US and Ethiopia and can now be found on Youtube.
Among the standout tracks is a personal favorite of mine, "Break Bread," a nuanced exploration of the tension between falling for someone and wanting to take things slow.
I fell in love with the album so quickly that I immediately pre-ordered the vinyl and expect some of the songs to be in my on-repeat playlist by the end of the week. It's that good! I am only writing this to inspire other people to listen to it and watch his short film.
I want to express gratitude to Berhana for delivering this beautifully inspiring piece of work!