Customer Reviews

Festival of Light

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This CD captures the mood of the Chanukah holiday in all its variations. Though no one will probably like all the cuts on this varied collection, there is enough appeal to make it a winner, nonetheless. Starting off with great strength, Marc Cohn's--mostly English--version of "Ma'oz Tzur" is touchingly beautiful. This may be the closest song we Jews have as a holiday "carol." The rocking "Lighting Up the World" by Peter Himmelman and David Broza closes the CD on an upbeat, clap along note while, at the same time, capturing what should be the message of Chanukah. "Kiddush L'Shabbat," credited to The Covenant, is a real treat. Using the voice of a traditional Cantor, the vocals of the Kiddush are set against electronic techno beats--but, somehow, it works beautifully and effectively. I am not sure why "Avinu Malkeinu" is on a Chanukah CD (It is from the High Holyday Liturgy), but Rebbe Soul's version is moving nonetheless. Other cuts have a dreamy, folky touch, while still others are more traditionally klezmer in arrangement and sound. If you work in an office where co-workers are bringing in their Christmas CD's, throw this one into the mix for a little diversity. It will be interesting to gauge the reaction. Pick up this CD to help enhance your Chanukah celebrations and menorah lighting!

This CD has some really inspirational Hannukah music from introspective cello with strings reminiscent of immigrants (1902 and the Emigrant) to up-beat bluesy pieces (Light up the World). There is Klezmer for the die-hard (Oi Tata) and one of the most beautiful, melodic songs (can you tell it is a favorite) called "Avinu" by Rebbe Soul. My family collects winter holiday music of all types, being equal-opportunity celebrationists. Winter is a time for rejoicing in most traditions, and this is agreat CD for feeling good in the long, dark night. This CD makes my top ten list of holiday music, no matter your religious preference. Also check out the complete recording by Rebbe Soul called "Fringe of Blue" which had the original version of Avinu.

I love both albums but I guess I must nit pick that Avinu Malkeinu and Oy Tata don't belong there. The authors could have come up with better choices. The Kiddush with the great Chazzan blended with a digeridoo was brilliant however.

Even when dealing with an "anthology recording, I usually have a pretty good idea about the contributing artists (who they are, what they're up to, how they tie into the overall project). I'm kind of compulsive that way, and these days it's not all that hard to give in to such a compulsion. After all, you can bone up quite readily on almost any recording artist, however obscure, by visiting any number of music sites, or just checking out the biographical info here at Amazon.

But this record was a little different. I brought it along on a recent road trip (and, yes, I acknowledge that it might be a little perverse to be listening to what's officially a "Hanukkah collection" in the middle of the summer, but what can I say? I felt like it. I picked up the CD on sale a while ago and, in a purge mode, I decided I'd probably donate to the local public library. BUT FIRST, I'd take it along with me on a trip out of state and see what made this Hanukkah record different from all other Hanukkah records.

It can be enlightening to just pop something into the CD player cold. Well, I mean, I wasn't totally ignorant of all the artists included here. I knew Marc Cohn's big hit "Walking In Memphis" and had heard some other things by him. And I've become a great admirer of Jane Siberry's over the years (although I can never quite remember the new moniker she concocted for herself a few years ago). And I've heard--and delighted in--the music of the Klezmatics on several occasions.

But for the most part, the artists behind the tracks here were unfamiliar to me. What struck me most, almost immediately, was the FLOW this album had. You almost didn't even want to try this CD on random select, it hung together so well. It is, for the most part, instrumental--with Cohn's song "Rock of Ages," (by no means, the old Christian hymn) serving as the opening track, and Siberry's meandering vocal(ese)"Shir Amami" and the more conventional rocker "Lighting Up the World" by Peter Himmelman and David Broza closing the record out. The tracks in between are, as stated, mainly instrumental (with some cantoral chanting and some trip hoppy spoken passages), moody and exotic instrumentals at that.

I hope I wouldn't insult the individual artists behind these remarkable tracks by suggesting that they flow so seamlessly that many listeners might not even realize that this is NOT the product of a single group. Yes, it'd have to be a pretty diverse group, but there are such ensembles out there. Even now, weeks after having fallen hard for this record, I'm still consulting the liner notes, trying to keep track of who's who and what's what. Credit has to be given to compilation producers Robert Duskis and Bob Appel for not just selecting all the right stuff, but for sequencing it so so beautifully.

And even though I find this a perfect blend, I'm still eager to hear more from the album's contributors. I see most of them have extensive bodies of work, and many of the tracks here are also included in full albums by this CD's contributing artists. It would be fascinating to hear these compositions in their original contexts. For instance, composer Wally Brill's "Kiddush Le-Shabbat" seems perfectly placed here in the middle of this record. But I see it is the opening track on his CD THE COVENANT. It'd be interesting to see how it works in its original setting.

Ah, so much music. So little time. But I'm glad I took the time for this one. It may have been the "wrong season"--although the liner notes stress that since there is very little "official" Hanukkah music, any number of songs from any number of different Jewish traditions and from all over the world can be adapted to the festivities. It may not be the case with every Hanukkah themed release, but this is one recording that can be played year round, without guilt or even much in the way of explanation. It's just good music--haunting, ethereal, otherworldly at times. A great discovery. And one that could lead to many more.

This CD and its companion (vol II) are staples at my house for Hanukkah parties and the season in general. Really well-recorded, terrific songs. Lots of beauty and playfulness. The first volume is superior to the second, but they're both well worth getting. If there was a volume 3, I'd buy it!

Great collection of modern folk style music that is wonderful to listen to anytime of the year.