SHESHET is
considered one of the most important Israeli progressive rock bands in
history and one of the top groups during the mid-phase of the classic
70s. 1977 was, more precisely, the year when a group of six important
musicians, led essentially by SHEM-TOV LEVI, made the one-shot called,
just like the band, Sheshet. Ultimately though, the way the band was
founded, its connections inside the Israeli scene, plus the ideals that
the founder and much of the group shared strongly, all these things
ensure, in one way, SHESHET's affiliation to the entire Prog Rock
register from Israel. Once you take a deep breath and plunge into this
country's progressive incredible history, SHESHET can hardly be
forgotten, among early and mid-70s names such as ASHQELON QUILT, DANNY
BEN ISRAEL, ZINGALE, ATMOSPHERE and such. Shem-Tov Levi, mildly the same
way, can be placed along SHLOMO GRONICH and other minds, the two having
even collaborated, founding the equally important and beautiful
experience KTZAT ACHERET, about two years before SHESHET's arch.It is
conventional to say that SHESHET started off after Shem-Tov Levi
finished recording his own solo debut (and the year of that was 1976).
YEHUDITH (Judith) RAVITZ is noted, sometimes, as founder of SHESHET as
well. Essentially, what Levi did was to summon some of the best
musicians of that time, writing meanwhile the music. Thus, SHESHET also
included in the end Schmulik Aroch (bass, percussion and vocals),
Shmulik Budagov (guitars and vocals), Ikie Levi (drums) and Adi Renert
(keyboards and vocals). Just like any other major (prog) musician or
group, the sextet wanted to offer something highly artistic, an
orientation bracketed automatically as experimental, unusual and
completely opposite to commercial compromises. The feedback on this
ideal was, unfortunately, disastrous, the music selling poorly or
finding little audience attraction - the SHESHET ensemble became
frustrated by this, just like other 70s artists felt disillusioned. The
abovementioned frustration led to a first split, without anything
having been recorded. Fortunately though, a reunion concert brought them
to the attention of a manager, who persuaded them to finally put
something on tape: so did the sextet record Sheshet. The love for prog
was taken beyond words, the rich blend of jazz-rock, fusion, prog,
Canterbury, folk and traditional elements being a major reason for the
album's value. As far as influences go, they include symphonic giants
like GENESIS, but the sound, on this side, rather reflects CAMEL.
HATFIELD AND THE NORTH is one other reference, as far as Canterbury
would be concerned. Prog musicians from Israel have searched deep into
GENTLE GIANT's music, and the affinity seems present here as well. The
jazz & fusion can be more subjectively discussed, as it is by far an
intricate style, but it is interesting to note that the group admired
the first works by RETURN TO FOREVER, contrary to other artists of the
70s who were dazzled by MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA. Containing, equally
fruitful, melodic traditional songs, with powerful Hebrew lyrics, on one
hand, and instrumental prog, jazz and fusion (with Oriental and Latin
extras) - the flute and Rhodes resonating more special -, on the other,
Sheshet can take its listeners into something beautiful, bright and with
unique bits. Line-up / Musicians Shmulik Aroch/bass,percussion,vocals Shmulik Budagov/guitar,vocals Shem-Tov Levi/flute,recoder,vocals Ikie Levi/drums,percussion Adi Renert/keyboards,vocals Yehudith Ravitz/guitar,percussion,vocals Discography Sheshet 1977
1.Clappers 2.Colours 3.Left Foot Samba 4.7/8 5.If Only You Had Come 6.Autumn Nights 7.Debka 8.Dinosaurus Jr. 9.F Minor
