It`s Tsvia Abarbanel`s version of Im Nin’alu that will draw most people to this collection. But there`s so much more here than that.

Tough drum breaks. Moog-y, Jazzy keys. Psychedelic organ drones. Duane Eddy / Link Wray / Ari San Rock N Roll twang. Heavy Psyche riffs. Jungle Exotica. Jimmy Castor bass-lines. Sweet vocal harmonies. All mix in a music that can`t seem to decide if it`s Pop or Progressive Rock Fusion. Dating from the `70s and `80s, it all kicks with a fuzz-toned `60s Garage sound. Blurring melodic boundaries between Israel, the Middle East, and contemporary Western influences.

Im Nin’alu (אם ננעלו) is a 17th Century Hebrew poem, made internationally famous by the “Israeli Madonna”, Ofra Haza in late `80s. Latched onto by DJs globally. Helped on its way when Coldcut sampled it for their Seven Minutes Of Madness remix of Eric B & Rakim`s Paid In Full. Tsvia Abarbanel`s recording pre-dates Ofra Haza`s by some twenty years. The players appear to have been listening to Cream`s Sunshine Of Your Love. The arrangement in the “Big Band” manner of Shirley Bassey`s Johnny Harris-produced cover of The Doors` Light My Fire. Tsvia`s voice, goosebump-inducing.