Liron Amram & The Panthers-The Dawn

"Israel 2014/15 is a place where beliefs, religions and opposing views create an uneasy environment, and a tense creative space. But is it possible to take all of these components and use them as raw material for a new cultural statement?

Fortunately, there are those who can: As a negative to what is happening around us, the music of Liron Amram & the Panters can ignite the lost imagination even if only for a few minutes, to resonate a more beautiful and relaxed reality".

Taken from their facebook page, this passage captures the beauty and magic of Liron Amram & The Panthers. Much more than just really good music to dance to, their music can be seen as part of a refreshing Mizrahi revolution. In "Safart" Amram intoduces us to a song that his father, the great Yemenite singer Aharon Amram, wrote and adding his own twist he gives it the style and sound of 2015.

Happy New Year!
Oh, props to Michael Moshonov for directing such a cult-worthy video.

Dawn has already risen and I did not sleep at all
The memory of love is aging like wine
Wherever I go and wherever I look
It again returns to me and ignites my pains

And what if I'll see you again in the streets of the city
Will I kiss you or run will I touch you or turn pale

Only you I knew
And there is nowhere to return
And how you touched me then
It's difficult not to remember

Dawn has already risen and I did not sleep at all
The memory of love has sunk in a glass of wine
Wherever I go and wherever I look
The stars do not tell the future

And slowly I realized
You were never
What I was so looking for
And I will always ask

And what if I'll see you again in the streets of the city
Will I kiss you or run will I touch you or turn pale

Only you I knew
And there is nowhere to return
And how you touched me then
It's difficult not to remember

Aya Zahavi Feiglin-Hadera

Wow. This single sounds like what it is-a first single from Aya Zahavi Feiglin, lead singer of "I Got the Hotties" (sadly disbanded) but it's so much more than that. I can really sense I'm with her on the coastal highway, probably stuck in traffic, and I can really feel her mix of emotions ranging from boredom to frustration to wistfulness. I'm glad she took her time-it was worth the wait.

I have a real relationship
With the empty seat on the right side of the car
I have a relationship
Sometimes I rest my hand on him
If I close my eyes maybe he'll caress me too
If I'll close my eyes strong enough

You can't close your eyes
In the middle of the road

Hadera Tel Aviv Hertzeliya Hadera Tel Aviv Hertzeliya
Always the same roads
Always the same relationship

Dad tried to teach me quantum theory
I didn't understand much but I understood
That I have a chance to grow wings from my back and fly
I have the same chance
To die right here and now
In the middle of the coastal highway

You can't close your eyes
In the middle of the road

Hadera Tel Aviv Hertzeliya Hadera Tel Aviv Hertzeliya
Always the same roads
Always the same relationship

Kama Vardi-Summers in my Hometown

What a lovely song by the very talented Kama Vardi. So thoughtful and vulnerable. I love this stripped-down version but I'm curious to hear how it would sound in an album and what songs would follow and precede it. If you are too, feel free to head over to headstart and help out.

I am standing by your gate
My one true love
I'd like to know your heaven but I'd rather steal your hell
Am I too late, my one true love?
See-I've been sending ravens since I really can not tell

Now my garden's growing drier than the winters in your hometown
You call it love, but we both know what we know
You're reaching higher and my wings can only fly down
See-I do love you
But I can't come where you're going

Now I'm standing 'neath your window
My one true love
And I won't stop serenading 'till these shadows are all broken
And each and every raven will turn into a dove
No, I wouldn't close my eyes
Till the dawn and you are woke and I can see

My god I think it's drier at the bottom of the ocean
I know your thunder, but that rain sure's a surprise
No, I don't fear your love
But I won't take that potion
It feels like heaven but it sure isn't my life

And I think I know the way
My one true love
But I wouldn't go out roaming till these lovers are outspoken
To seek a treasure that I could never have
I pray and pray I wouldn't but we both know that I sure can
Till I see

My heart is growing lighter than the summers in my hometown
You call it love but we both know that we know
You're reaching higher but my wings can only fly down
See-I do love you but I can't come where you're going

Hadmaot-A Hunting Song

A few weeks ago I was browsing through music on Soundcloud when this lively piece by Hadmaot (the tears) came up. I was hooked and listened to "Gold Album" in its entirety. I can't say this about many albums but this album really changed the atmosphere of the room, mainly thanks to Afik Peleg's warm voice and warmer lyrics, not to mention the perfect combination of instruments such as the mandolin, accordion, contrabass, and drums. I want to go to a place where these guys perform all the time and later just hang out with them, discussing life over a glass (or two) of whisky.

A song that will hunt the attention and the stomach
A song meant for staring one more second in your eyes
A song that will touch you, will slide like a caressing drop,
The stomach
And the taste of blood in your lips

And perhaps
Another long minute is creeping in
A captured minute, with generous curves
Get undressed deep in my eyes

A song for temptation, the pulse is pounding in the chest and stomach
And the song is whispering between your legs
A trapped song, connected from the heart to the stomach
A dangerous song, connected from the stomach to the heart

And perhaps
Another long minute is creeping in
A seized minute. with generous curves
Get undressed deep in my eyes

And perhaps
Another long minute is creeping in
A seized minute. with generous curves
Get yourself a place in my life

TIGRIS -Tigris

I can't believe that we're actually going to early elections, and all because of ego. Oh well, at least there's a [slim] chance for positive change-who knows what will come out of this chaos. This colorful video was filmed last July and really captures a typical summer day in Tel Aviv. You get the feeling of wandering through the city not really knowing what you'll encounter, with this wonderful band on your headphones drowning out everything else.