Zohar

Artist: Mystic Fugu Orchestra
Label: Tzadik
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 702397710622
EAN: 0702397710622
ASIN: B000003YTI

Release Date: 1995-07-18

Related Categories:

Jewish & Yiddish Music

| Folk | Styles | Music

General

| International | Styles | Music

General

| Jazz | Styles | Music

General

| Pop | Styles | Music

General

| International | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Listmania:

Ten Things at Once/Soccer Girl: Ode to Short Attention Spans

Tracks:

Alef
Book Of Splendors
Frog Doina
The Dybbuk
2000 Years
Goniff Dance
Rav Nova
Ayin

Customer Reviews:

A Gem Amongst Gems.......2006-06-25

In this landmark collaboration between John Zorn (Rav Tzizit) - Harmonium and Yamataka Eye (Rav Yechida) - voice, we have some of the most amazing and obscure music ever recorded. The years of talent between both musicians are clearly evident in eight solid tracks of pure musical bliss. Mixed into the recording is what some would consider "annoying scratching sounds," but if we pretend this is just a random percussive element...possibly put together by someone like Cyro Baptista, then the music becomes much more accessible.

'Alef' opens up with a bell sound signifying the commencement of this masterpiece. Yechida wastes no time as he opens with some great concert style vocals, reminiscent of something from the 11th or 12th century. The first highlight of this recording is 'Frog Doina' which transcends the musical elements of both improvisation and simplicity. Much like some of Bach's experimental playing, these two masterminds do some amazing inverted harmonies that climax at a point that sounds like Muzak meets Cecil Taylor. This surely would make Keith Emerson jealous and force him into retirement.

The most commercial track, '2000 Years,' starts with Eye and Zorn fighting for their moment in the spotlight, harmonizing beautifully in a style of ragtime...almost like Jelly Roll Morton, followed by a wonderful key change into a much darker sound using primarily harmonic minor scales. This brings us to the stunning 'Goniff Dance.' This may be one of the most breathtaking pieces of music ever recorded in the history of the world. Definitely the most klezmer piece on the album, it forces us to question if this music was written by God. Tzizit's chord changes and chord solo sound like nothing we have ever heard before, except maybe Robert Fripp's chord solo on 'Sailor's Tale'.

'Ayin' closes with a bell sound just as the opening track did, reminding us of the fatalistic nature of ZOHAR. I prefer listening to this piece of music on repeat for several hours. Eventually you will enter a paradigm that you never knew existed, cutting you off from the rest of mankind.

Don't pay attention to the one and two star reviews of ZOHAR. I would recommend it to anyone - Zorn and non-Zorn fans alike. Trust me, it will be the best money you have spent on music in a long time.

I don't get it........2005-12-19

"Zohar" is perhaps one of the oddest records in the catalog of John Zorn. The record, "inspired by historical recordings of ancient Judaica", is presented as a 'found' recording, complete with endless analog noise and scratching dubbed in. The problem is that the noise added is in fact louder than the music. But more on that in a minute.

The music itself-- performed by Yamantaka Eye (credited as Rav Yechida) on vocals and John Zorn (Rav Tzizit) on harmonium consists primarily of droning or klezmerish harmonium with Eye chanting and moaning, typically in his upper register above it. At its best, its agile and intriguing ("Frog Doina") or droning and moody ("Book of Splendors"), but at its worse its downright irritating ("Goniff Dance") and dull (the seemingly endless "Rav Nova"). To make matters worse, the noise dubbed in is so aggressive that you can't always make out what's going on behind it.

I realize this was meant to be somewhat irreverent and humorous, but truthfully, I feel like the guy who missed the joke. Some folks love this recording, but honestly it's the only thing I own by Zorn that I can't say I enjoyed at all.

An inside joke?.......2003-12-10

On this EP, John Zorn and Yamatsuka Eye are poking fun at old klezmer 78s. Somewhere in the thick blanket of crackling static is the sound of Eye chanting while Zorn plays harmonium. If you can make out what these two guys are doing, it sounds pretty good. It's a spare, improvised recreation of old Jewish folk music, emphasizing the ceremonial songs and chants.

But the static is too thick. And the album is too short. The songs aren't really songs, either. Zorn and Eye have cut their improvs into chunks of random length. If you own everything by Zorn already (like me), you might as well buy this. It isn't a complete waste. I still listen to it once a month. There's something authentic about it that keeps me interested. But if you don't like weird music, sound effects, or experimental ethnic stuff, don't bother with this CD.

you should know what to expect.......2003-09-24

in this cd, Yamatsuka Eye & John Zorn take you back 60-70 years. the music is melodic and simple, created using harmonium, humming, occasional singing and not much else. over that, the noises of scratchy old 78's are pasted. they are actually louder than the music. while certainly not for everyone, this cd is magical. put it on, relax, and suddenly you will be taken back many years in time. the feeling is like eavesdropping on some sacred religous ritual. one of the most atmospheric cd's i have.
this should be viewed as an ambient effort, and a very original and atmospheric one. if you are not into that, you wont enjoy. if you are looking for typical free jazz zorn product, you wont enjoy it either. but if you are open minded to something unique, try it. i've never heard anything like this before.(but you could say that on many other tzadik recordings).

if cd length is important to you, note that this cd is only 30 minutes long or so.

Zzzzzzzz.......2002-06-05

I love Yamatsuka Eye & John Zorn, but this is a load of pretentious horse vomit. It is not an old album as another reviewer thought, but an attempt to make it sound old. That's an interesting idea, but the scratchy-record sound is MUCH louder than the music, which is very subdued in the first place. Come on guys, you're scraping the bottom here. This is only 30 minutes long, but it seems like hours. Painful hours.

Music CD:

Music CD

Music CD

Music CD

Paint ~ Susan Herrick

Screaming for Vengeance ~ Judas Priest

The Enemy Within ~ Occult

David Essex/Out on the Street ~ David Essex

Us ~ AMP

Antigone ~ Heaven Shall Burn

2000: Year of the Dragon ~ Modern Talking

Live in New York ~ Joe Cocker

Best Of: Original Hits ~ Roger Whittaker

U.R.U. ~ Krewcial