Record Reviews
19 Reviews Found. Use search to find more reviews or follow the links in the review text.
  | SHLOMO ARTZI ~ MIDNIGHT
HED ARZI 14822 (Barcode: 7293372482229) ~ ISRAEL ~ Classic Rock
Recorded: 1981 Released: 1991
Israeli singer / songwriter Shlomo ArtziFind albums by this artist has been the most iconic figure on the local music scene since the late 1970s. His songs have become the soundtrack of Israeli life, both in the moments of joy and those of profound sadness, overwhelmingly accepted as the epitome of the collective Israeliness, shared by all those living in Israel. In retrospect this phenomenon is quite surprising, as Artzi´s music is definitely non-trivial and often quite complex and his lyrics are usually cryptic, convoluted and associative, rather than narrative. And yet hundreds of thousands of Israelis are able to sing his songs, quoting every phrase and chanting each note. His live performances, which are legendary in scope and intensity, transcend well beyond cultural events and for many of the participants turn into emotional experiences of truly epic proportions. Although Artzi started his musical life at an early age, the initial period of his career and his early recordings are considered less significant, although some indications of his abilities were already present these. It was the release of the album "He Lost His Way…Find albums with this title" which established him as a major force on the local scene and his career took off from this point onward with a meteoric momentum. It was followed up by the brilliant album "WaysFind albums with this title", which was the first true giant step in Artzi´s "Golden Age" and remains one of his strongest to date, a definite, serious artistic statement in every respect. This, the follow up album, is very much a continuation of the style and approach established by its predecessor, with all 9 songs being composed and written by Artzi. It has a strong Jazz-Rock influence, which is emphasized by the presence of a brass section and the brilliant guitar work by Mordy FerberFind albums by this artist and exceptional (as always) flute parts by Shem Tov LevyFind albums by this artist. Of course every Artzi album is an absolute must for every lover of Israeli music in general and Israeli Rock in particular. A classic!
| | | 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 |
  | SHEM TOV LEVY ~ `99
HED ARZI 230014 (Barcode: 7293372409820) ~ ISRAEL ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1999 Released: 1999
This is an excellent album by Israeli flautist / composer Shem Tov LevyFind albums by this artist, who was one of the founders of the local Art-Rock / Prog scene in the early 1970s. It includes ten superb songs composed by Levy, with lyrics written by the best Israeli writers at the time. The album was recorded by a fantastic team of musicians, which included the absolute crème de la crème of the Israeli music scene at the time and a bunch of great Jazz players as well. This music lost nothing of its beauty over the years and Israeli music fans will find it delightful, as everything else Levy touches!
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | SHEM TOV LEVY ~ CIRCLE OF DREAMS (SOUNDTRACK)
MAGDA 033 (Barcode: 7293627103329) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion
Recorded: 2000 - 2001 Released: 2001
This is an excellent album by Israeli flautist / composer Shem Tov LevyFind albums by this artist, who was one of the founders of the local Art-Rock / Prog scene in the early 1970s. The music on this album was composed especially to serve as the soundtrack of the Israeli film "Circle Of Dreams" and marks a momentous step in Levy´s musical development, with his return and re-discovery of World Music, which he was exposed to during his youth: Balkan, Yemenite, Arabic and other Mediterranean cultures. The music combines Rock. Jazz and World Music elements and is an excellent example of the "new" Israeli musical identity, which firmly and clearly becomes established here in the last decade. Great stuff!
| | | CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend |
  | SHEM TOV LEVY ~ IN THE MOOD (EXPANDED EDITION)
PHONOKOL 4257 (Barcode: 7296134425724) ~ ISRAEL ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1976 Released: 2008
1st album by Israeli flautist / pianist / composer Shem Tov LevyFind albums by this artist – finally released on CD 32 years after it was originally recorded. Levy was of course one of Israel’s best and most talented musicians at the time and a bold innovator, pushing the boundaries of early Israeli Rock, mostly in the Prog direction. After this brilliant debut album, Levy was to join forces with Shlomo GronichFind albums by this artist and Shlomo YdovFind albums by this artist to form the legendary No NamesFind albums by this artist, and soon after another legendary ensemble SheshetFind albums by this artist. Levy composed and arranged all the music on this album, which includes 4 vocal tracks and 5 instrumentals. He also wrote the lyrics for two of the vocal tracks. On the two other vocal tracks Levy used poems written by famous Israeli poets Lea GoldbergFind albums by this artist and Dalia RabikovitchFind albums by this artist, as was quite customary in Israeli Prog on the 1970s. The brilliant melodies, which Levy composed, are perhaps the only truly “Israeli” music written at the time, full of Jazzy chord changes, polyrhythmic pulsation and clever incorporation of Middle Eastern motifs. The instrumental performances are brilliant, as he used the best players on the local scene at the time, like guitarist Yitzhak KlepterFind albums by this artist (ChurchillsFind albums by this artist, KaveretFind albums by this artist), bassist Ehud IngerFind albums by this artist, drummer / guitarist Haim RomanoFind albums by this artist, drummer Meir IsraelFind albums by this artist and many others. His flute playing is absolutely mind-blowing of course. He also arranged the music for the string ensemble, used on some of the tracks. In retrospect, this is an extraordinary debut album, full of exquisite music and endless timeless gems and definitely on of the best albums recorded in Israel in the 1970s. This new editions adds four bonus tracks, all great examples of Levy’s superb talent as composer and arranger, including an extra-rare live recording of a live No Names performance, singing a medley of Beatles songs with a typical humorous twist. An absolute classic!
| | | CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | SHEM TOV LEVY ENSEMBLE ~ BEN ADAMA (SON OF THE EARTH)
TAV 8 (Barcode: 7290013087485) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion
Recorded: 2010 Released: 2010
Israeli flautist / pianist / vocalist / composer Shem Tov LevyFind albums by this artist is a pillar of the Israeli music scene. From his early work with Prog ensembles No NamesFind albums by this artist and Tuned ToneFind albums by this artist, his solo albums and numerous co-operations with all top Israeli musicians, his illustrious career is always characterized by meticulous execution and excellent ideas, as well as incredible sense of melody. He combines, perhaps better that any other Israeli musician, the heritage of East & West meeting together in a wonderful amalgam of modern music, which is second to none. It is with great joy that his fans are able to enjoy a renewed surge of activity displayed by this album, his second with the Shem Tov Levy EnsembleFind albums by this artist, which consists of some of the best instrumentalist on the local scene. This is wonderful and beautiful music, which embodies the spirit of music crossing genres and traditions. Wholeheartedly recommended!
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | SHEM TOV LEVY ENSEMBLE ~ STATIONS
TAV 8 (Barcode: 7290011118631) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz-Rock-World Fusion
Recorded: 2006 Released: 2007
Israeli flautist / pianist / vocalist / composer Shem Tov LevyFind albums by this artist is a pillar of the Israeli music scene. From his early work with Prog ensembles No NamesFind albums by this artist and Tuned ToneFind albums by this artist, his solo albums and numerous co-operations with all top Israeli musicians, his illustrious career is always characterized by meticulous execution and excellent ideas, as well as incredible sense of melody. He combines, perhaps better that any other Israeli musician, the heritage of East & West meeting together in a wonderful amalgam of modern music, which is second to none. It is with great joy that his fans are able to enjoy a renewed surge of activity displayed by this album, his first with the Shem Tov Levy EnsembleFind albums by this artist, which consists of some of the best instrumentalist on the local scene. This is wonderful and beautiful music, which embodies the spirit of music crossing genres and traditions. Wholeheartedly recommended!
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | KAREN MALKA ~ LADY OF THE FOREST
TAV 8 (Barcode: 7290013088987) ~ ISRAEL ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 2009 - 2010 Released: 2010
This is the debut album by Israel singer / songwriter Karen MalkaFind albums by this artist, who has been active on the local scene since several years, most recently as a member of Avishai CohenFind albums by this artist´s AuroraFind albums by this artist quintet, recording two albums with that ensemble. Cohen produced this album and plays on it, contribution his exquisite bass parts and also wrote one of the songs, with the rest being all by Malka. Other participating musicians include pianist Shay MaestroFind albums by this artist, percussionist Itamar DuariFind albums by this artist and guitarist Guy ShohamFind albums by this artist. Veteran flautist Shem Tov LevyFind albums by this artist plays on one track. The music is a gentle, somewhat melancholic mixture of Folk influences, Jazz undertones and contemporary Art Rock, which is difficult to categorize, but works out well, producing a dreamy atmosphere. The instrumental accompaniment (including one instrumental track) is excellent, with the individual musicians being able to express themselves at their best. The production and sound quality are also excellent. Altogether this is a great album, which many music connoisseurs will surely enjoy, and which has new musical vistas every time one listens to it. Definitely worth investigating!
| | | CD 1 Slipcase Recommend To A Friend |
  | SHESHET ~ SHESHET (30TH ANNIVERSARY EXPANDED EDITION)
NMC (ISRAEL) 82366 (Barcode: 7290011507602) ~ ISRAEL ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1977 Released: 2007
Eponymous album by Israeli group SheshetFind albums by this artist led by Shem Tov LevyFind albums by this artist, who also wrote almost all the music, and including the best local musicians at the time. This Prog / Jazz-Rock outfit created a great blend of western, Latin and middle-eastern music, which sounds as fresh today as it did at the time of the recording. Lead vocals are by Yehudith RavitzFind albums by this artist, who later became a major Israeli star. The compositions are heavily influenced by Prog (Gentle GiantFind albums by this artist in particular) and the album ranks among Israel’s all time best albums. The beautiful new edition includes as a bonus the extra-rare (just a few copies of the original LP are known to be in existence) second album by Sheshet, never previously released on CD, which the group recorded as soundtrack of the Israeli film “The Stretcher March” (see Side note). The only vocal track on the second album is sung by no other than Gidi GovFind albums by this artist, who also played a leading role in the film. The reissue of this album is a major feast for the Israeli Prog discography.
Side Note: Following the 1973 Yom Kippur War, the Israeli society entered a period of major upheaval and a radical re-examination of its values and social / political perspectives. The pioneering and bold film “The Stretcher March” was the first of its kind to openly examine the moral and psychological difficulties faced by soldiers in the IDF, a subject that was a complete taboo beforehand. This film and later other similar films and books written / published in the late 1970’s were all a result of this fascinating period in Israel’s society formative years.
| | | CD 2 Slipcase Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | VARIOUS ARTISTS ~ A DIFFERENT TUNE 1, 2 & 3
HED ARZI 15756 (Barcode: 7293372575624) ~ ISRAEL ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1975 - 1990 Released: 2000
This superb Box Set collects together the three volumes of the Israeli Prog compilation called "A Different TuneFind albums with this title", released separately over a period of two decades. These compilations contain some of the best and most daring music recorded in Israel over the years, which are examples of the incredible vitality of the local scene. Some of the material appears on albums released by the artists included here, but the compilations also include material never previously released commercially or released only as radio singles, etc. The scope is enormous and truly enlightening, especially for people less acquainted with Israeli Prog and Art Rock and therefore especially attractive as a comprehensive introduction to the scene. I recommend this Box Set wholeheartedly as it contains "pure musical gold" from start to finish and should appeal to any Prog fan around the world. For those familiar with the scene let me just throw in some names of the artists appearing here: No NamesFind albums by this artist, Fourteen OctavesFind albums by this artist, Shlomo GronichFind albums by this artist, Matti CaspiFind albums by this artist, Tuned ToneFind albums by this artist, Yoni RechterFind albums by this artist, Shem Tov LevyFind albums by this artist, Gidi GovFind albums by this artist and many, many more!
| | Updated: 26/01/2019Posted: | CD 3 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Recommend To A Friend |
  | SHLOMO YDOV ~ FROM WITHIN THE SILENCE
HIGH FIDELITY 016 (Barcode: 7290013013361) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz-World Fusion
Recorded: 2009 Released: 2009
Veteran Israeli singer / songwriter / guitarist Shlomo YdovFind albums by this artist (No NamesFind albums by this artist, Tuned ToneFind albums by this artist) returns with a surprising instrumental album, which features his excellent acoustic guitar playing. Ydov composed ten of the twelve pieces on this album, all of which are beautifully melodic and all are flavored by South American and other World Music influences mixed with Jazzy improvisations and arrangements. Ydov´s guitar is wonderfully supported by the bass, played by the veteran bassist Eli MagenFind albums by this artist. An old friend, flautist Shem Tov LevyFind albums by this artist, guests on one track; percussionist Roni IvrinFind albums by this artist plays on three tracks and bandoneón player Amichay ShalevFind albums by this artist plays on two tracks. Altogether the album is an intimate meeting between the player / composer and the listener, which should be enjoyable for most music connoisseurs. Ydov´s melodies are well crafted and have the ability to remain fresh, even after repeated listening. His guitar playing is very skillful and wonderfully "round", and he avoids any flashy displays of "guitar madness", staying on track with exactly what is required. Definitely worth investigation!
| | | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
|
