Record Reviews
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  | DUVDEVAN ~ DUVDEVAN
NOT ON LABEL ~ ISRAEL ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 2002 - 2004 Released: 2009
Legendary Israeli Prog group DuvdevanFind albums by this artist is probably one the best kept secrets of the local scene, hidden for decades and now finally revealed to the public. Formed in Jerusalem in 1980 the group quickly established itself on the local scene as the best live act around, playing highly energetic mix of Blues, Prog and Jazz-Rock Fusion. The fact that the group was fronted by an electric violin made it especially attractive, as this was highly unusual with most groups being fronted by electric guitars and keyboards. Most of the group´s material was instrumental and included extensive improvisations by the three solo instruments: violin, keyboards and guitar. Unfortunately the group lasted only for a short period of time and disbanded, leaving almost no recorded material except for a few marginal radio recordings. The musical scene in Israel in the early 1980s was of course not exactly the proper ground for Prog, or any other non-mainstream activity, which made the sheer existence of groups like Duvdevan, or other ambitious ensembles active at a time (like Electric StageFind albums by this artist, Gan EdenFind albums by this artist and others), virtually a miracle with little survival probability. The moving force behind the original band was French-born keyboardist Yves TouatiFind albums by this artist, who immigrated to Israel in the mid-1970s. The other original group members consisted of violinist Danny TiberinFind albums by this artist, guitarist Eyal TaubenhausFind albums by this artist, bassist Arnon PaltyFind albums by this artist and drummer Rony HolanFind albums by this artist. After Duvdevan disbanded Palty left to the USA and Holan to France to study music and upon their return to Israel both became part of the local Jazz scene and both are still active. Duvdevan and its music would have been completely forgotten if not for the initiative of Arnon Palty to reunite all the original group members and professionally record the music played by Duvdevan, at the time when the group was originally active. This happened finally in the early 2000s, with the resulting music present on this album. Unfortunately the album was not released for several more years and had to wait until 2009 to be finally made available, after painstakingly being put together and produced by Palty. The album´s release was celebrated by several live performances by a new version of the group, which included three original members. Sadly at the same time the news of Yves Touati´s untimely death (he died in Paris) reached the group, casting a sad shadow on the celebrations. In retrospect the music of Duvdevan is some of the best Prog / Fusion ever played in Israel and an integral part of the country´s musical heritage, proudly standing shoulder to shoulder with such legendary recordings as the debut albums by ZingaleFind albums by this artist, SheshetFind albums by this artist and others. The fact, that this music is now available, albeit 30 years after its original timeframe, should make all fans of Israeli music quite happy. An absolute must for all Israeli Prog fans!
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  | 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 |
  | YONI RECHTER / YEHUDITH RAVITZ ~ ONCE AND FOREVER (30TH ANNIVERSARY EXPANDED EDITION)
NMC (ISRAEL) 83485 (Barcode: 7290011998769) ~ ISRAEL ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 1979 Released: 2009
Israeli pianist / composer Yoni RechterFind albums by this artist and singer Yehudith RavitzFind albums by this artist first met as team members of the children´s show Sixteenth LambFind albums by this artist, which produced one extraordinary album soon to become an absolute Israeli classic, considered to this very day as the best albums of its kind (and definitely not only for kids). Following the Sixteenth Lamb, Rechter and Ravitz teamed up for the "Once And ForeverFind albums with this title" show, later recording the songs from the show for an album of the same title, which also became an instant classic. Both Rechter and Ravitz were already seasoned musicians by the time they recorded this album; Rechter spent several years with the top Israeli Rock band KaveretFind albums by this artist, which recorded three albums, Ravitz fronted the wonderful SheshetFind albums by this artist band, which also produced two superb albums. Nevertheless this recording was in fact the first opportunity for both of them to flourish, Rechter mainly as a composer of wonderful and unforgettable melodies and Ravitz as a superb singer of highest sensitivity, second to none, a position she still holds to this very day. The album includes some of Rechter´s most beautiful compositions, exquisitely performed by Ravitz and a team of great supporting musicians, an extraordinary document of the first period of Israel´s musical scene coming to fruition. This new expanded edition includes not only the original album but also a live performance of the show filmed by Israeli TV as well as a couple of other TV appearances, all released for the first time on DVD. This is an absolute must for any fan of Israeli music!
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  | SHESHET ~ SHESHET
NMC (ISRAEL) 82366 ~ ISRAEL ~ Progressive Rock
The only album by this group from 1977. Led by Shem Tov Levy, 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 Yehudit Ravitz, who is today a major Israeli star. Some great instrumental pieces as well. Hebrew vocals.
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  | 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 |
  | SUSSITA ~ SUSSITA
NOT ON LABEL (Barcode: 7290010936007) ~ ISRAEL ~ Progressive Rock
Recorded: 2004 Released: 2005
1st album by a new Israeli group SussitaFind albums by this artist formed by young musicians, who play and sing a superb collection of great songs which mix folk and jazz influences into a completely new and fresh sound. If you are fimiliar with the classic SheshetFind albums by this artist album, this is in many ways an updated follow up. With flute, female vocals (all vocals in Hebrew) and mostly acoustic instruments, this is a delightful debut!
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