Editorial Review:

Album Description:
The Idan Raichel Project is the brainchild of Israeli keyboardist, composer, producer, and arranger Idan Raichel, who invited over 70 different musicians from a wide variety of backgrounds to participate in the recordings. In particular, Raichel has long been fascinated by the music of Israel's growing population of Ethiopian Jews, and many songs feature members of Israel's Ethiopian community. The recordings also include Arab musicians, traditional Yemenite vocalists, a toaster and percussionist from Suriname and a South African singer, among others.

The Project released its first album in Israel in 2002 and quickly became one of the biggest success stories in the history of Israeli popular music. The haunting Ethiopian chorus of the first single, 'Bo'ee' (Come With Me), sounded completely unlike anything most Israeli's had heard before. The groundswell of interest propelled the album to heights rarely seen in the local music scene and firmly established Idan Raichel as a new type of Israeli pop star. Now a musical icon in the Israeli community worldwide, The Idan Raichel Project has performed to sell-out crowds in prestigious venues in Paris, Brussels, New York, Los Angeles, Singapore and beyond.

The international release of The Idan Raichel Project's recordings on the new record label Cumbancha promises to introduce a wide new audience to the electrifying work of this unique musical collective. The Project offers a new vision for how Israelis, their neighbors in this volatile region, and people all over the world, can cherish their individual cultural traditions, celebrate their differences and through respectful collaboration create new and inspiring expressions. 'Our ability to live in peace with one other depends on our learning to appreciate and respect each other's differences,' notes Idan. 'The way forward is not by trying to change your neighbor, but by accepting him and recognizing that we are all looking for the same things in life: bread, water, spirit, respect and love.'

Deluxe international version is enhanced with three music videos and other special features.

Amazon.com:
In Israel, where Jews from all over the globe arrive seeking refuge and new lives, a young keyboardist/composer/producer/arranger named Idan Raichel sought out seventy multinational musicians and began recording with them in his basement studio. As he set about mixing Ethiopian and other African Jewish traditions with home-grown Hebraic, Yemenite, and Arab styles, Old Testament Psalms, and even Caribbean vocals and rhythms, he initially had little hope of ever seeing the sessions released commercially. But he ended up with not one but two precedent-setting, huge-selling albums, from which the present CD was deftly cherry-picked. Opening with a majestic, multi-voiced Ethiopian chant, the 12 selections here make ample use of ethnic-based traditions and instruments. But although the songs share an edifying spiritual depth, they are nonetheless modern pop in the best sense, accessible and chock-full of catchy melodies. For example, on 'Be'Yom Shabbat' (On Sabbath), the vocals--one wavering and prayerfully soulful and the other more straight-ahead--are couched in a cutting-edge reggae context, complete with sampled voices and electronic flourishes. Despite his commitment to eclectic sources and unusual juxtapositions, Raichel obviously has a happy way with a hook and no scruples whatsoever about having fun with it. --Christina Roden









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Disc 1:

1. Bo'ee (Come With Me)
2. Mi'Ma'amakim (Out Of The Depths)
3. Ayal-Ayale (The Handsome Hero)
4. Hinach Yafah (Thou Art Beautiful)
5. Im Tachpetza (If Thou Wisheth)
6. Suvi El Beyti (Come Back To My Home
7. Im Telech (If You Go)
8. Be'Yom Shabbat (On Sabbath)
9. Brong Faya (Burn Fire)
10. Ulai Ha'Pa'am (Maybe This Time)
11. Azini (Comfort Me)
12. Siyaishaya Ingoma (Sing Out For Love)

Rating: - * Emotional Musical Ride ... Our first exposure to Idan Raichel was through the Putumayo compilation "One World, One Culture" on which Bo'ee appears. That song became an instant hit with everyone in our house (a range of ages from 6 to nearly 40). Shortly after hearing this we picked up the Project CD and fell in love with it. The tracks with Din Din Aviv are amazing. And thanks to YouTube we could watch many of these tracks live. Idan's story is amazing...more than 72 musicians appear on the recording. One of the most moving musical journey's I've taken in a long time. Rating: - * Addicted ! I listen to it over & over everyday ... I got it as a gift from friend when I traveled to Israel. I am so addicted to it and I can listen to it over & over again every single day. I am waiting for the next album to come out. Rating: - * very interesting, eclectic and hard-driving album ... Idan Reichel is probably the most interesting musician working in Israel today and one of the more interesting anywhere. His "project" brings together a movable feast of artists from many different traditions. When I saw him perform last year in Washington DC, the lineup included an Ethiopian and a South American singer as well as some of his regulars. Reichel with his dreadlocks looks like a Yemenite rasta. The result is a hard-charging sound with lyrics in Hebrew, Arabic and Amharic. The music is not ostensibly political but the subliminal message is: it says that music can bridge wide cultural divides and bring people together -- that music has a universal appeal if it is well-done. This is definitely well-done. For more on me, go to www.alanelsner.com. Rating: - * Every day looping... ... I love this CD. Each track is wonderful, instrumental accordings are magical. Thank you so much Idan Raichel! Rating: - * Everyone Loves this CD as a Gift ... Idan Raichel's music is amazingly diverse and cutting-edge world music. People find it very accessible and catchy. This CD has made a great gift more than once.