TZADIK

OREN AMBARCHI / ROBBIE AVENAIM THE ALTER REBBE'S NIGUN (1999, TZADIK)

Tzadik's first reference.

The Australians Oren Ambarchi (guitar and electronics) and Robbie Avenaim (drums and percussion) organized the festival 'What is Music?' in early nineties, in Sidney, which featured Noise-based artists. This event helped him to develop contacs with Sunn O))) (Oren Ambarchi was playing the guitar in this summers european tour) and with Zorn's label Tzadik, they only one made CD in 1998.

Ambarchi and Avenaim were hasidic students and 'Tanya's readings' (jewish religious text) inspired this recording. It is divided into 4 tracks that represent different levels of closeness. Asiyah (Action), Yetzirah (Formation), Beriah (Creation) and Atzilut (Emancipation). The compositions have the exploratory freedom, the spontaneity and the fluidity of improvised music.

Accompanied on drums by Avenaim, Ambarchi achieve to trascend conventional instrumental approaches. It creates structures that develop towards a sound similar to amalgam electric gamelan soaring. The Alter Rebbe's nigun shows the harmony between Ambarchi and Avenaim, creating real drone tuning and the force allows a precise audition of extramusical componets.

I encarriage everybody to listen to this brilliant recording and look out for more collaboration between these two inspirational artists.

This record is a little gem.

OTHER TZADIK SAME YEAR

Purple Trap Decided...
John Zorn's Masada Live In Taipei/Jerusalem
Korekyojin Self Titled