Customer Reviews

Change the World With a Sound

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I just discovered the music of Rebbe Soul -- and can't recommend it enough. In the past, I've been a little wary of Jewish music, in part because much of it seemed shlocky or schmaltzy; clearly a little over-sentimental. However, Rebbe Soul -- like the musicians behind such bands as the Klezmatics -- has borrowed from traditional sources (liturgic music, prayers, etc) and contemporary musical trends (sampling, world beat, etc) to create a gorgeous musical fusion. Highly recommended....

When I first heard this album, I had just been introduced to world music - mostly traditional middle eastern, Mediterranean, and African - and expected it would be along the older traditional lines. My mind was completely blown by the exciting blending of edgy modern rock (even rap) influence, in what was clearly very spiritual stuff. I quickly pulled in my son, a rap-loving sound engineer in Oakland, to listen to it with me, and he shook his head and smiled... "good stuff", he said. I've since seen Rebbe/Bruce perform live with his Power Percussion Trio, and the energy they produce is amazing. For the record, I am not Jewish, and so have no particular tie to the history of the songs/prayers, I just love to hear them performed by this amazing band!

I'm sorry to say I was disappointed with this CD. I first heard Rebbe Soul with the Fringe of Blue CD, which rates much higher in smoothness and likability, and I was hoping for more of the same here, but it was not to be.

Multi-instrumentalist Rebbesoul fuses rock with Middle Eastern rhythms while performing on vocals, balalakia, mandolin, guitars, bass, keyboards, percussion, programming, and sampling in creating and performing the pieces comprising Chang The World With A Sound. Innovative, melodic, pulsing, original, and altogether memorable, the selections comprising Change The World With A Sound include: Intro (0:07); Tzamah L'Cha Nafshi (4:47); Kaddish (5:55); Rock of Ages (4:21); Shalom (4:09); Esa Enai (6:51); Shmelke's Nigun (4:45); Kol Dodi (5:20); Qaafilah (5:39); Eliyahu (4:44); Reincarnation of a Melody (3:03); and Avinu (4:55).