SHESHET

This was the only studio album that Israel's own SHESHET released back in 1977. A six piece with two guitarists playing a lot of the acoustic version but we do get some electric guitar solos. A pastoral record with plenty of flute and piano as lead instruments but really it's those male and female vocals that draw me in. In fact my first impression was that this sounds like Argentina's INVISIBLE. It was after spending a week with this that I saw many mentioning GENTLE GIANT which surprised me although I hear it on one track "Debka" with the vocal arrangements. The male singer would become a popular vocalist in Israel after this. I don't know but this is one of those records that just makes me feel good, very uplifting with some excellent instrumental work by all. Everyone but the drummer adds vocals so we do get some harmonies and other multi-vocal sections. This didn't sell well at all causing the band to break up soon after this was released.

Cymbals" might be my favourite and a great example of the music on display here. Piano only to start as the bass and drums kick in. Flute starts to solo then vocals around a minute as it settles. My first spin of this had me delightfully confused with how this sounded coming from a band from the Middle East. Gorgeous stuff and the piano and flute take turns leading with the vocals coming and going. I feel there's a couple of misses hence my rating like the ballad "If You Had Come". There's some jazzy tracks too like "7/8" and "Dinosaurus Jr". I really enjoyed this one and it's easily 4 stars. The leader of the band the flute player would reappear in the Israeli music scene with SANHEDRIN over 30 years later.