Open The Gates
Self-Released, 2020
8/10
A couple who are well versed in world music, with Open The Gates, Rachel Valfer & Eliyahu Sills bring us the very lush sounds of Jews indigenous to the Middle East in a very modern package.
“El Ginat Egoz” starts the listen with soothing string work as expressive and lovely vocals sweep into the poetic setting, and “Sapari” follows with a quicker pace of rhythmic and cultured sounds amid sublime vocal harmonies.
Deeper tracks offer us the cautious and dreamy “Istanbul Nights”, which builds into a swift display of boundless skill, while “Oseh Shalom” offers acrobatic plucking in a folk influenced atmosphere. Near the end, “Hit’oreri”delivers some of the prettiest singing, as gentle melodies flow alongside the spiritual landscape.
Previously of The Qadim Ensemble, Rachel and Eliyahu grew their love for world music- and each other- and this collection of tunes radiates with traditional songs in Hebrew and Ladino, where poems and chanting during religious services is highlighted in their testament to their own love and heritage.
Travels well with: Yasmin Levy- Sentir; Yuval Ron- In Between The Heartbreak