Alphabet associations - I

[Anna]

And, with Addis Ababa, could we be looking at Abba's Greatest Hits!

[Don Petter]

The African landlocked republic could be Ethiopia with Addis Ababa the capital giving us another A to play with.
And Atlantis the island republic?

I also though Ethiopia, because this is the only land-locked African country with an abbreviation starting with a vowel (ET), which is what Ofca seems to require, and it looks as if it has to follow the 'S' of 'PS' somehow? (I'm assuming some phrase is going to appear, rather than just musical notation.)

[Pianorak]

Maldives - another island republic.

[BetweenTheStaves]

I'm losing the will to live here! Go away for a few hours, weird clues and then suddenly Woof!!! we're all done and dusted and on to the next four letters. Still trying to puzzle out 'W'...!

[Norfolk Born]

You're looking for four two-letter abbreviations, none of which begins with or includes an 'A', but which will give you the initials of the members of a famous musical ensemble that does begin with 'A'.

[rubbernecker]

You're looking for four two-letter abbreviations, none of which begins with or includes an 'A', but which will give you the initials of the members of a famous musical ensemble that does begin with 'A'.

Now it's a race to marry up the members of the Amadeus Qt with the clues. Peter Schidlof is easy...

New Brunswick is Norbert Brainin

Senegal is SN, Siegmund Nissel

Maldives is NOT Martin Lovett, that's MV...

Hmmm...

[Don Petter]

I'm losing the will to live here! Go away for a few hours, weird clues and then suddenly Woof!!! we're all done and dusted and on to the next four letters. Still trying to puzzle out 'W'...!

Do try to keep up!

(It is possible to scroll upwards, I've just found ...)

[Don Petter]

Now it's a race to marry up the members of the Amadeus Qt with the clues. Peter Schidlof is easy...

New Brunswick is Norbert Brainin

Senegal is SN, Siegmund Nissel

Maldives is NOT Martin Lovett, that's MV...

Hmmm...

Malaysia (ML) has islands?

[Anna]

Mali?

[rubbernecker]

Malaysia (ML) has islands?

Yeah, but it ain't an island and is a federal constitutional monarchy, which I don't think is the same as a republic...?

[rubbernecker]

Mali?

That's got to be right for the landlocked state, Senegal is on the coast but it is abbreviated to SN, so I'm v confused now...

[Nick Armstrong]

... a federal constitutional monarchy

I love it when you get technical, rubbers

[Anna]

Mali is a Republic, landlocked in West Africa. Have I got one answer right? Oh joy if I have!

[Don Petter]

Mali?

Yes, Mali (ML) is one of the landlocked. So it is rubber's SN, for Senegal, which is wrong because it's not landlocked or 'islandic', and we need another SN for island republic. (I think - my brain hurts...)

[rubbernecker]

we need another SN for island republic. (I think - my brain hurts...)

That is my understanding, too. And my brain hurts, too. I am calling it a night...