Eastern Wind
Self-Released, 2009
8/10
A World Music album that landed at #7 on the Billboard Charts, this very cultured record includes traditional songs in Arabic, Hebrew, Armenian and Turkish, and takes the listener on an adventure through Armenia, Yemen, Egypt, Turkey and North Africa.
“Im Nin’alu” starts the listen with strong, soaring vocals before strings enter the textured rhythm and detailed musicianship that displays percussion acrobatics alongside incredible vocal harmonies, and “Die Yaman” follows with a quick display of cautious, bare song craft that’s immediately stirring.
Near the middle, “Yedidi Hashachachta” flows with a spiritual angle where upbeat instrumentation meets breezy melodies, while “Maghrebi” recruits some of the most playful ideas amid timeless grooves. “Desert Dub”, one of the standout tunes, then utilizes strategic woodwinds in a hypnotic and soothing landscape that alone is worth the price of admission.
“Oh Yeah” and “Til ‘et Ya Mahia Nurha” bookend the listen, where the former uses repetition with great results, and the latter offers a duet where there’s plenty of soul and emotion in the gripping exit.
An exceptional listen with top notch interplay between the musicians, each track here births a new beauty and flows with grace, adventurousness and dynamic interplay as Eliyahu Sills brings his multi-instrumental talent and leadership skill to devotional music, love songs and folk tunes rooted in the Middle East.
Travels well with: Rachel & Eliyahu- Open The Gates; Yasmin Levy- Sentir