Avtipus (Prototype) What does the weatherman know?
Reviewed by Tomer Degani
I would like to tell you about a band called "Avtipus" (prototype).
Their first and only album so far is called "What does the weatherman know?".
This album is "melody-based" (a definition of the band members) and this is
one of the reasons it's so good. It includes lovely songs such as:
'Leave me a place to hug you in the dream", "Distress", "Good morning world",
and my personal favourite "Isha" (woman).
I really recommend this album and look forward to their next one, which is
expected soon.
(Feb. 14)
Chava Alberstein Yonat HaAhava (The Love Dove)
"A postcard from Israel, 1996" is how Ha'aretz describes Hava Alberstein's new album. The sixteen songs -- she wrote 13 of the melodies and 6 of the lyrics -- "well express a contining moment of crisis, personal and social, that must be reckoned with though it's unclear if a full solution can be found, or if there is indeed a solution," writes Ha'aretz. And on an equally promising note, Tel Aviv says the record "sounds good and is convincing."
Alas, the reviews are only mixed, perhaps reflecting the high expecations we all have for Chava. The Love Dove is "not a complete album" laments Tel Aviv, and Ha'aretz says the album "leaves the feeling of a missed opportunity: In music, as in life, good taste can't suffice."
But what do you think?
(January 24)
Eifo HaYeled Eifo HaYeled
An anonymous RadioHazak reader
writers: Great album, great band. The album has
no unique style, the band simply gave
their best and you can feel the band
in not fixed into one style.
Send comments to yudel@well.com
DieWelt DieWelt
"There are few records that take you to another place," writes
Avi Ephrati in Tel Aviv, reviewing the premiere album
by the group that includes Alon Avnet, Banya Reches, Dori Gold,
Roi Nasi and Ido Drori. For achieving that, the album, despite
its flaws, is a welcome promise, he writes, a welcome signal
on the seismograph of Israeli rock.
Send comments to yudel@well.com
Eifo HaYeled Eifo HaYeled
The fourth album of Eifo HaYeled ("Where's the boy?") comes as a letdown, writes reviewer Avi Ephrati in Tel Aviv.
The promise shown by the rock group, which first burst on the scene with Sugar Time (Zman Sukar), has yet to be realized, Ephrati complains. He forgave them the "excess eclecticism" of their second album Demons (Shedim) and the weakness of their third, Travels With Myself, but enough is enough.
"There's no reason to defend them further," he writes.
Monica Sex Wounds and Kisses
"The album is great," reports Ruthy Shneider. "losing Monica is a great loss, they have potential. The best song on the album is (to me ) "Gray Hit" (maka afura ). Well, I hope you will write somthing about them, coz' they rule.
Rami Kleinstein Apples and Dates
"I fell in love with it" reports Iris Rosenberg, just back from two weeks in Israel. "It is heard on the radio non-stop and is one of the better cd's I've heard so far from an Israeli artist."
Tzvika Pik La'asot Ahava (To Make Love)
Pik's 22nd album ``carefully follows the rules of the game that turned him into a big star in the '70s," writes Gidi Avivi in Ha'aretz (June 28). For 25 years, Pik has offered his fans "an energetic mix of vulgarity and innocence, masks and truth, naivete and knowledge." This album includes a choir singing "pru u'rvi" (be fruitful and multiply) and two new versions of Pik classics "Lagur Ito" (To live with him) and "Shir Hapreicha" (The flowering song). Pik sings them "with excitement, as if they were written just yesterday," says Avivi.
Boaz Sharabi Hakoach L'hamshich (The Strength to
Continue)
Sharabi's newest Greatest Hits album "explains well why in the '80s Sharabi became one the most beloved heroes of Hebrew music," writes Gidi Avivi in Ha'aretz (June 11), even though Sharabi's best and most popular songs appear on an earlier compilation.
The album's first disc includes hits from the late 80s and 90s, such as "C'shetavo" (When he comes), written for Ron Arad. The second disc includes 11 collaborations, on which Sharabi appears as composer, singer or performer. Partners for these cuts include Leah Shabbat, Arkadi Duchin, Ehud Manor, Mati Caspi, Ilanit, Rivkah Zohar and Daklon. For Avivi, the inclusion of this wide spectrum illustrates "the secret of Sharabi's power in Israel in the '90s: The musical, cultural and generational divides seem to vanish before the pleasant singing of Sharabi."
Collection of Edna Goren
(Yes, in 1995, I am not lying!
What's next? An album of Tzilla Dagan?)
Full of Hebrew jazz, only two "Sasha" songs.
DISAPPOINTING.
Collection of Ruhama - A nice collection with "In My Beloved Country"(Lea Goldberg, Moni Amarilio), "The Green Mountain" (Yoram Tahar-Lev, Moni Amariloi"), "Each and His Jerusalem"(Nathan Yonathan, Moni Amarillio), the beloved "Flowers of Foam", and many others. REASONABLE
Dorit Farkash ("Locked Garden" with Shuki Shuki - someone remembers) recorded an album of Naomi Shemer songs in a computerized studio, and the files were distroyed because of technical fault. Now Dorit comes with an album of Nana Mushkori's songs, including the unforgetable "Woman on the Seashore" (Naomi Shemer, Manos Hadidadkis) that the Suburbs have performed on "Music" (1989) RECOMMENDED.
Chani Livne and a Greek singer whose name I forgot - A collection of new Israeli versions to the songs of Manos Hadidadkis. Some songs are common between the two albums.RECOMMENDED.
Yardena Arazi - a new album with new stuff. To the lovers of happy music.
"Simply her best so far," writes Andrew Koerner. "After recently seeing her in concert at the Hebrew University Student Day in May 1995, I believe that her break of a few years has done nothing but helped her improve the quality of her music. Her concert also allowed her fans to see that she not only has a wonderful abilty to sing, but she also has a very firm grasp on Modern Dance."