ZINGALE

The Yes influence is most prominent in the early tracks, and particularly on the majestic “Help this Lonely World” and “Carnival”; the former which could also have passed for a Klaatu recording, and the latter sounding like some sort of instrumental outtake off the cutting room floor of the ‘Tales from Topographic Oceans’ studio sessions. Unfortunately the band did not have the technical advantages in the studio that Anderson and Co. did, so the sound tends to come off as muddled at times, which serves to give the impression the music is every bit as dated as its copyright. No matter, serious prog fans are rarely dissuaded by old analog recordings, especially when the music encased in them is arranged with such loving attention to detail.

Lead singer David Bachar manages a fairly decent blend of Jon Anderson and Greg Lake when he decides to sing (in English no less!), especially on the energetic and snyth-riddled “Love Song”. Violinist Tony Brower exudes emotion on the melancholy “7 Flowers Street”, and then follows that up with some wicked string-bending chords on the introspective and acid-tinged “Lonely Violin Crying”. These are the mellowest and most engaging tracks on an otherwise highly progressive and adventurous recording.

Electric keys and fusion rhythm abounds when the band slides into an improvisational jam on the rollicking “Stampede”; and then seems to take a cue from the likes of Peter Hammill with the sardonic, tense anti-war anthem “Soon The War Is Over”, a ranging call-to-arms for lovers of peace everywhere. With several members of the band having served in uniform during the Yom Kippor War, and those memories still fresh in their minds, they certainly know of what they sing as the lyrics are spit out amidst wailing guitars and stilting keyboards. The rather abrupt and unsettled ending mimics the lack of closure that war brought to the region too well.

The band would turn to Hebrew-language music shortly after this album was finally released (which itself didn’t happen until a couple years following its recording); some of those tracks appear on the nineties CD reissue. Musically these are much less ambitious songs, and other than the spacey “Green Scooter on the Way to Asia” most of them are of a completely different genre and time than the original recording.

It amazes and saddens me that a quarter-century after this group of guys from Israel issues their musical call for peace in that region, the guns and bombs are once again raining across their homeland. Let’s all hope that the peace they sang of manages to become manifest someday. In the meantime, take a chance and hunt down this unusual record – it’s worth the trip. Four stars and well- recommended to most serious prog fans.

peace

Heroica is a straight up jazz/fusion rocker somewhat like Mahavishnu with frenzied violin and fast drumming, poppy jazz bass lines, and some nice rhodes work. Some synth comes in and the bass gets really rockin, this guy really knows how to slap and pock! The song brings momentum into the album and ends with a transition to the more YES-like and symphonic... 4/5

Help this Lovely Planet: Nice and melodic Yes-like singing with some rhodes and beautiful multiple-dubbed violin lines to accompany it with psych sounding guitar interweaved throughout. Truly great for any violin fan! This song is really beautiful and the album is worth checking out for it alone! 5/5

Carnival: Wow this song rocks! It's like a psych-bluegrass hoedown with some awesome and completely off-the-wall guitar and violin work exchanges reminiscent of Mahavishnu. Now some rhodes piano and crazy wah-wah bass followed by a truly spooky avant-garde part which could serve as the background music in a horror-house. 5/5

Love Song: Reminds me of some of the Caravan Stunning Cu......errr i mean Cunning Stunts tracks with the typical Canterbury style along with some great singing and violin work. The slow part picks up pace and turns into a complex Yes-like part which then gives back to the slow pace and in come dual slide guitars, very Pink Floydy indeed. 5/5

7 Flowers Street: Very pretty Folky dual acoustic guitar and violin calms down the frenzy. Truly beautiful, and picks up into a faster paced jazz/fusion section. 5/5

One Minute Prayer: A sped up and reversed prayer of some kind with a backing track, very psychadelic. 4/5

Lonely violin Crying for Peace: Nice violin in the beginning followed by a jam session with rhodes at the forefront and some fretless bass. 4/5

Stampede: Another great jazz/fusion rocker with some synth thrown in for good measure and lots of tasty psyched out violin,guitar and sweet bass lines. 4/5

Soon the war is over: Obviously the singer listened to VDGG because a few parts are mediocre attempts at Peter Hammill (but then again every attempt at Peter Hammill would be a bad attempt wouldn't it, he can't be touched!), but it doesn't really detract from the quality of the song which is great. After the botched PH attempt, everything is beautiful as long as you can get beyond the Israeli accent. The end of the song is pretty epic and a great way to end this fantastic album! 5/5

4+5+5+5+5+4+4+4+5= 39/9 =4.33 which has to be rounded to 5 to recify a little of the injustice that has been done to this superb gem! Do not hesitate to check this album out, especially if you're into intricate, beautiful prog with a fusion emphasis. And isn't it just also cool to be able to say that you have an Israeli prog album! Highly Reccomended!

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But, right. This album seriously isn't very good at all. It's okay as just some music to listen to while you talk to some friends or... do... something that doesn't involve you focusing on this music. And for that! I will give it a 2 star review. It's a good attempt and it is almost definately prog sooo... I will give Zingale the benifit of the doubt. Anyway... I don't think I will ever listen to this seriously under-complex album but... it was an okay addition to my collection. Don't go out of your way looking for this album, don't even have it in your possession... but maybe give it a listen if you find yourself able to.