Bop Kabbalah + Voices: When You Speak Of Times To Come
Self-Released, 2020
9/10
Listen to Bop Kabbalah + Voices: When You Speak Of Times To Come
A Brooklyn based guitarist and songwriter who is well versed in jazz, rock and even classical sounds, Ty Citerman places himself in the company of Judith Berkson and Sara Serpa on this unclassifiable effort, where an avant-garde experience embraces chamber, classical and artistic ideas.
After the brief opening of “Prayer”, where many voices sing and talk with an actual prayer amid some soft ambience, “Gebet” follows with Serpa and Berkson’s gentle vocals working together alongside Citerman’s bare instrumentation.
Further on, “Geyt Brider! Geyt” displays incredible vocal harmonies between the women, as Citerman lays down intricate guitar work to illuminate the warm atmosphere, while “Ver Tut Stroyen Movern, Palatsn?” gets a bit more forceful musically and lyrically with a strong vocal range and louder moments from Citerman. “Es Rirt Zikh”, the album highlight, then spends 7 minutes with a poetic and melodic display of stirring guitar work and soulful singing.
The final track, “Future Generations (Doyrus Fun Der Tsukunft)” unfolds across 4 chapters, where mysterious storytelling, vocal harmonies and soaring chanting are spread across a very diverse landscape.
This is Citerman’s first album as bandleader in 6 years (he also plays in Gutbucket), and he brings a wealth of creativity to a project that few others would even attempt. A concept album that composes and arranges 150 year old texts from the Yiddish labor movement, expect intimacy, exploration and awe in this fascinating record.
Travels well with: The Art Ensemble Of Chicago- Tutankhamun; Charles Lloyd & The Marvels- Vanished Gardens