The Ziontrain interview and review: Eden MiQedem

Looking around the dimly lit club, I try to determine what kind of show to expect. The steadily filling room is already becoming crowded with a myriad of sorts: hipsters, hippies, a few Lubavitch fellows, married couples sitting together, having a laugh, beer for the men, non-acoholic soda for the ladies.
Kind of a mix, really.
But that's what can be expected when attending a show played by Eden Miqedem, the "newest" - and most exciting -act from Israel. Led by Shmuel Nelson, this band mixes all types of elements: Sephardic/Arabic/World music, lyrics from liturgy, tehillim, and original compositions, mixed with techno samples and goold old psychedelic rock.
This past Wenedsday's show, held at Triad, featured a more stripped down ensemble: Shmuel Nelson on lead guitar, accompanied by another guitar, a bass, a drum and a percussion section( what Shmuel jokingly called the "New York branch of Edem MiQedem". In truth the band was the lineup of the now defunct [ I believe] Shimshak band), causing the show to have more of a "rock" show.
For a first taste of the band, I couldn't have done any better. Song after song, I was dazzled by the music, the sound, and the ambiance. While Shmuel's banter may need to be tweaked, his soft spokenness and the feeling that a majority of attendees were friends of the band lent itself to the atmosphere, affecting a warm friendly surrounding. As a matter of fact, Shmuel's entire manner - from the way he speaks to the way he interacts with others - belies an intensity that one must witness. I had the pleasure of catching him after the show, and we rapped for a few minutes...
Jewmaican20: First of all, I'd like to thank you. That was truly amazing.
Shmuel Nelson: [ Nods head, smiles ] Thank you, thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
J: How long have you lived in Jerusalem?
S.N.: I've been living there for four years now...
J: How long have you been in the musical business, in the scene?
S.N.: Well, I've really been playing, making music since I was in high school. But in the business? Since I moved to Israel. I mainly play weddings with a band called "Et Hazamir".
J: Cool. So, what circles do you play in? Do you ever go to Kikar Tzion, jam with the bands that play there?
S.N.: I don't like to limit myself to any "circle", really. I haven't jammed with any of those bands, but I like to think that we connect with all sorts...This music is very broad. We have middle eastern elements, what some people in Israel call "ethnic"...
J: I noticed that several of your songs have Arabic in them...
S.N.: Yes. One song contains the Muslim call to prayer, that they use to call the faithful to worship...
J: The Muezzins...
S.N.: Exactly. The message of that particular call speaks to me, namely it's role in Islamic society, but in general, Arabic speaks to me. I speak Arabic, and it's an emotive language. One of the songs I played tonight, Mizmor LeSodah, I've translated into Arabic, and it's sung in both Arabic and Hebrew...
J: Wow...
S.N.: Yeah, it's very nice.
J: So, who would you say is your target demographic?
S.N.: Anybody. The widest possible. Obviously, people who have a taste in the psychedelica world, the ethnic and world genres, but really everybody...
J: So, how do you define your music?
S.N.: Well...it's spiritual. Definitely. But I wouldn't define it as jewish, necessarily. It's got jewish prayers, but I want it to be for everyone...
J: I could tell that Floyd, the Dead, are influences of yours, but I'm curious as to what your major music influences are...
S.N.: I'm really into this style of music called Sha'abi ( an ethnic Egyptian form of music), obviously there's the rock influences. I've also been listening to DJ Cheb ( an Algerian jewish DJ who lived in France and now is based in San Francisco), and Natash Atlas, who is a big influence of mine...
J: Okay, great. Now, we both know how music is emotional, and sends messages on all levels, but if you had to speak your message, what would you say?
S.N.: [ Thinks for a minute ] Okay. First and foremost, in an expression of beauty. We believe through beauty we can connect to God, and to others. It can bring people together. Not everyone is ready for it; some are afraid of it... Especially now, it seems like a divine irony, all the discord going on back home ( Israel). We can't see the similarities between us ( Jews and Arabs), and maybe through this beauty, we can come together...

Here are two videos from the show...



Review: Eden Miqedem
First of all, unlike most Israeli made albums, this one has amazing quality; cystal clear.
As opposed to the show, which was a stripped, rockier version of their songs, the album boasts a rich sonic texture: Soaring flutes, violins, accompanied with techno samples and amzing instrumentation. Shmuel's Arabic inflections provide an exotic feel to anyone not familiar with this genre of music. I won't go through each song, but his choices of tehillim and liturgy are fine, and every track is fresh. His original poetry (as detailed in the liner notes) is breathtaking and authentic. This album is high on my list of must-haves.
Unfortunately, I don't believe that the album is available in most stores, so you'll have to visit their website: www.edenmiqedem.com.
It's worth it. Buy this album!