Hemi Rudner - Harvest Time

At first I was certain I'd write about Yair Lapid and the elections, but then I came across this song, and it's so lovely and peaceful that I don't feel like tainting it with politics. It's so soothing and perfect for a much-needed catch of breath during exam period. Hemi Rodner is known for his melancholic and pretty songs (this one somehow feels very light) and he's also the leader of the 90s band Eifo Hayeled (where is the kid) with great anthems that are still very fresh and relevant today, like this one from '93(!)

In dreams I return
Return to that village of my childhood
The same place the same hour
The familiar smell of fruit trees

In dreams I remember
All that I forgot about myself
An endless twilight
Beautiful a little bleak half state of mind
I went back to my home and to my childhood

Maybe it's harvest time now
Collect yourself and be a father
The boy you are yearning for
Will miss you, be afraid, will love
Will be happy, laugh, be a father

Time doesn't give a passport
And the present is concrete blocks
You wonder what went wrong
Where did the fire go how not to despair
How to continue to dream how to continue
To dream

Maybe it's harvest time now

http://hemirudner.bandcamp.com/

Old Man River - Old Shanghai

Beck just released his newest "single"-the chords and lyrics of "Old Shanghai", part of his very original songbook. I'm personally pretty jealous of everyone who can read chords and give the song their own unique interpretation, but it's great just listening to the different versions. TimeOut Tel Aviv made a little project featuring 5 very different artists who all played the song. There was something about this specific version that really caught my attention and won me over. Maybe it's the simplicity, maybe it's Ohad Rein's singing, which really captures the emotion of the song. I can really imagine him wandering around in Asia, absorbing all the wonders of an exotic place while being a bit homesick for the familiar and a certain someone. I remember hearing Old Man River's huge hit "La" back in '07, and it's great to hear him again. Since then, he's released quite a few albums, so I have a lot of catching up to do! I also found through his facebook a recent cover album with very original and unique covers you can download for free! Made my weekend :)

When you're walking in old Shanghai
Lanterns under the night sky
See the moon begin to rise
Just like it did back home

Old men smoking in cafes
Junk boats floating in the bay
Think of me while you're away
In old Shanghai

With no ties, with no plan
Your last dollar in your hands
Take a picture and send it back
To someone you used to know

Things will always find their way
From the backroads to the bay
There's more to do than there is to say
In old Shanghai

Things will always find their way
From the backroads to the bay
There's more to life than you or I will ever say
In old Shanghai

http://oldmanrivermusic.com/

Hilly Boimel - If you'll call

A perfect song for a rainy Saturday like today, meant for rest and reflection. I really like Hilly's clarity - you can hear every word so clearly. I'm used to singers who hide their lyrics behind the music, and here they're very out there and open. It's quite vulnerable and also brave, which blends well with the meaning of the lyrics.

Quiet
No one is asleep.
Whoever is cold and broken,
The light won't reach out its hand
As it told him not to jump into the night
So he'll only shed a broken tear
On the still pieces
And will murmur in a cracked voice-

If you'll call me I will come

Quiet
Raving
Commotion sealed lips.
When it's already cold everything is allowed,
The light won't reach out its hand
As it told him not to jump into the night
So he'll only shed a broken tear
On the still pieces
And will murmur in a cracked voice-

If you'll call me I will come

https://www.facebook.com/hillyboimel