Record Reviews

MATTI CASPI ~ MATTI CASPI NMC (ISRAEL) 80208 (Barcode: 7290003301584) ~ ISRAEL ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1974 Released: 1991 This is the 1st eponymous album by Israeli singer / composer Matti CaspiFind albums by this artist, one of the most important and brilliant music makers in the country, who led a new generation of musicians and composers in creating new Israel music, much of which was very progressive, as it was created in the early 1970s. This stunning album is full of brilliant songs, all written by Caspi. Two of the songs have lyrics written by the great Israeli poet Natan ZachFind albums by this artist. Caspi plays all the instruments on this album as well. Definitely one of the best albums ever recorded in Israel and a must to all collectors of early Israeli music.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

NURIT GALRON ~ AND THEN CAME UPON US NMC (ISRAEL) 20938 (Barcode: 7294276209387) ~ ISRAEL ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 2009 Released: 2010 Almost 30 years after Israeli singer Nurit GalronFind albums by this artist recorded her brilliant album "Songs In The Middle Of The NightFind albums with this title", which included songs written to the wonderful poetry of the iconic Israeli poet Natan ZachFind albums by this artist, she returns with the same concept on this album. A brilliant set of new songs, composed by some veteran (Ilan WirtzbergFind albums by this artist) and some newer songwriters, exquisitely performed by Galron, accompanied by a sympathetic group of excellent musicians. Unfortunately the subtlety and intricate details of the poems in the Hebrew language is lost to all those listeners who lack the knowledge of our language, nevertheless the atmosphere and the quality of this great album is universal and many non-Hebrew speaking people around the globe will undoubtedly enjoy it. An instant classic!

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

NURIT GALRON ~ NURIT GALRON HELICON 94101 (Barcode: 7293627410120) ~ ISRAEL ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1978 Released: 1990 1st album by Nurit GalronFind albums by this artist, one of the top Israeli singers with most of her artistic activity dedicated to performing songs written to lyrics by contemporary Israeli poets like Lea GoldbergFind albums by this artist and Natan ZachFind albums by this artist. This debut album is very much in the Prog vain, due to the intricate compositions and the cream of Israeli musicians who accompanied her on this recording. Strong Jazzy feel and great instrumental work are also present on this album and Galron´s vocals are exceptionally beautiful.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

NURIT GALRON ~ SONGS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT NMC (ISRAEL) 84851 (Barcode: 7290003300662) ~ ISRAEL ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1981 Released: 1990 3rd album by Israeli singer Nurit GalronFind albums by this artist, who dominated the Israeli music scene in the late 1970s and through the 1980s, dedicating most of her output to interpretations of songs written especially to words by great Israeli poets. This album was the first and most important breakthrough in that genre and here Galron sings eleven sublime songs written by the best Israeli composers, like Yoni RechterFind albums by this artist, Matti CaspiFind albums by this artist, Shalom HanochFind albums by this artist, Ilan WirtzbergFind albums by this artist (with whom Galron cooperated extensively) and others, all composed especially for this album to the poems of Natan ZachFind albums by this artist, one of the most important contemporary Israeli poets. Accompanied by best Israeli players at the time, this album is a masterpiece in every respect and to this day one of the greatest albums recorded in Israel. Although non Hebrew speaking listeners can not appreciate the beauty and profoundness of the lyrics, still the exquisite melodies and Galron´s crystal clear vocals and sensitive delivery should enchant every music lover beyond the Hebrew texts. Absolutely essential to every lover of Israeli music!

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

NURIT GALRON ~ SONGS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT (EXPANDED EDITION) NMC (ISRAEL) 22472 (Barcode: 7294276224724) ~ ISRAEL ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1981 Released: 2013 This is the third album by Israeli singer Nurit GalronFind albums by this artist, who was one of the most influential and revered Artists on the local scene in the late 1970s and through the 1980s. Galron was a gallant pioneer of the Music & Poetry movement, which had a loyal following at the time and brought modern Israeli poetry to a much wider audiences than just the poetry buffs. This album is dedicated solely to the poetry written by the sublime Israeli poet Natan ZachFind albums by this artist, and includes eleven of his poems which had music composed to by the absolutely crème de la crème of young Israeli composers like Yoni RechterFind albums by this artist, Matti CaspiFind albums by this artist, Shalom HanochFind albums by this artist, Ilan WirtzbergFind albums by this artist, Shlomo YdovFind albums by this artist, Hanan YovelFind albums by this artist and also (one of the songs) by the Godfather of Israeli songwriting Alexander ArgovFind albums by this artist. She is accompanied by a dreamy team of the best instrumentalist active on the scene at the time, which includes, besides the composers themselves, also flautist Shem Tov LevyFind albums by this artist, bassist Miki ShavivFind albums by this artist, drummer Alon HillelFind albums by this artist and many others. These beautiful songs have been an integral part of the Israeli cultural legacy for over three decades now, completely untouched by time and sounding now better than ever. The beauty of the melodies combined with the depth of Zach´s exquisite poems is simply an unbeatable combination with an everlasting added value. In retrospect this is one of the true Israeli music classic recordings, matched only by a few others over time. It also served as an inspiration for generation of young Israeli songwriters and singer to combine the better of the two worlds: music and poetry, which still is felt today. This expanded edition adds a whole CD of bonus material, which is part of a concert, recorded live by the radio and is released here for the first time. The concert celebrated Zach´s new book of poetry ("Northeasterly") published in 1979, and was an inspiration to this album, released a couple of years later.

CD 2 Slipcase Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

YONI RECHTER ~ ROMANCE IS WHAT COUNTS HED ARZI 15492 (Barcode: 7293372154928) ~ ISRAEL ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1990 Released: 1991 The annual Israel Festival is the most prestigious cultural affair produced in Israel. Among the many events of the festival, each year one Israeli musician is invited to present an evening of his songs, which is considered a great honor for the artist and a gesture of gratitude for his achievements. Of course in the case of Yoni RechterFind albums by this artist the gratitude is highly deserved and the cycle of songs he presents is truly exquisite. This album (recorded live) captures the event in its entire splendor. Being a hopeless romantic at heart, Rechter chose the theme of love and romance as the connecting thread between all his songs. His life-long friend and partner, the poet Eli Mohar, supplied the lyrics to his music, except a few songs where Rechter uses poems written by the most important Israeli poets like Natan ZachFind albums by this artist and Natan AltermanFind albums by this artist. To perform the songs Rechter invited his old friends, with whom he recorded previously, like Yehudith RavitzFind albums by this artist and Gidi GovFind albums by this artist. The players are all top Israeli musicians, mostly from the jazz circle. The entire affair is truly magical and all the songs are of such high quality that in time they achieved a permanent status in the pantheon of the Israeli songbook. Essential for lovers of Israeli music and poetry and romantics, wherever they might be.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend