Diversity, Not Conflict

Putumayo newest music collection, Israel, debuted recently, and it’s a diverse album befitting that country’s ethnic amalgam. A grab bag of musical influences—reggae, jazz, and electronica meld with Indian, Latin, and African rhythms—backs multilingual vocals, including Hebrew, Arabic, and Yemeni.  The album is well-balanced and, at times, achieves greatness. 

Track three, “Seret Eelem” from Hadas Dagul, plays her sweet, clear voice and acoustic guitar against a Brazilian-flavored backdrop, creating a mellow, but upbeat tune.  The accordion on track four, “Ha’rikud Ha’muzar Shel Ha’lev,” a duet between Rona Kenan and Gidi Gov, brings to mind a smoky French café.  The swaying melody and vocals make it feel like a drinking song—quite appropriate since the title translates to “Strange Dance of the Heart.”

Track seven, “Tariki” by the Yemenite Jewish band Zafa, is worth the price of admission all by itself.  Front woman Sharon Ben-Zadok’s hauntingly gorgeous Yemeni vocals are backed by a funk/jazz/Indian fusion that includes a sitar and a horn reminiscent of a saxophone.  Israeli superstar David Broza offers track nine, “Srochim.”  The song’s chilled-out tempo, relaxed guitar, and meandering poetic vocals echoes the folksy rock-pop (i.e. John Mayer) that currently populates American radio.

Amal Murkus’ melancholic Arabic vocals on track eleven, “Ta’alu,” are distinctly different from anything else on the album and a welcome variation.  The CD ends on a peaceful, hopeful note with The Idan Raichel Project’s “Mi Ma’amakim.”  Created by a master of international collaboration, Raichel’s song feels like a haven, featuring an Ethiopian folk song melody, smoothed by Western instruments and calm, uplifting vocals.

Buy Israel at Amazon.com