Ashkelon Quilt {Made In Israel / Progressive}

очерк истории прогрессива в Израиле

Ashqelon Quilt - The Event (2001)





Biography

The Ashqelon Quilt are a young Israeli trio who seem to have absorbed the best of late 60's and early 70's progressive elements. The band consists of brothers Shachar Hendel (vocal, keyboards), Ori Hendel (on guitar) and singing flautist [Sharon Rinat]. It was Israel's first neo-prog band and the first modern Israeli prog band to get distribution abroad. Their album The Event was released by Hi-Note label in the UK in 2000. Their music merged Celtic and Middle Eastern folk with pop and strong influences of Gentle Giant and Genesis. The epic track The Well was a highlight and it stands as a great example of Israeli prog. A number of guests also contributed some vocals, flute and violin on their 2001 release The Event, including the Hendel brothers' own dad, Benny Hendel.

The article compiled from 2 sources - Page on progarchives and from article of Gil Keltch, gepr.net

Another sources

Interview with THE ASHQELON QUILT
The same interview on Russian

Discography
The Event - 2001 (Hi-Note, UK)

Review

Current Israeli band The Ashkelon Quilt had recently released its debut album The Event. The band led by brothers Hendel, produced the album by themselves and thus managed to create an intimate and very 70's sounding album. Various influences can be heard throughout the album, notably Gentle Giant, but also Genesis, ELP, Pink Floyd, Peter Hammill, Peter Gabriel and the more melodic side of the Canterbury Scene, the band takes these influences and adds some English, Celtic and Middle Eastern folk and manages to create its own unique sound and personality. This is reflected in the excellent and mature song writing, Shachar's nostalgic voice and keyboards playing and Ori's killer acid guitar (resembling Gary Green of Gentle Giant and Phil Miller).

In several tracks they are assisted by female vocalist and recorder player Sharon Rinat, whose voice reminds me of Sally Oldfield's. Violin and cello are also used to a good measure adding symphonic depth to the music.

The album itself is great and highly recommended its highlights includes "One by One", a Gentle Giantish track with great guitar work, the title track which starts with instrumental middle eastern tune (reminding of Peter Gabriel's Passion album), turns into an Irish folk and evolves into the main theme and so on. The best track however is "The Well", a mini epic in several sections and great guitar and keyboards work.

The band tends to mix several styles, often in the same track, which makes really interesting and worthwhile album. I'll conclude by saying this is a great album by a great band with lots of potential, I can't wait to hear their next release.

(Gil Keltch, gepr.net)

Track listing

1. One By One (3:27)
2. Crown (6:36)
3. The Coin (8:41)
4. Twilight (3:30)
5. Introduction To the Event (2:12)
6. The Event (4:24)
7. Tel-Aviv Stress (3:21)
8. Substitute (3:49)
9. The Well (11:29)

Total Time: 47:29

Personel

Shachar Hendel / lead vocals, analog & digital keyboards, grand piano, drum-programming
Orj Hendel / electric & acoustic guitars, mandolin, charango, darbuka drums, backing vocals
Sharon Rinat / recorders, vocals & vocalizes

Guest musicians:
Corrine Schlomovitch / violin (on 1)
Hagar Dagan / flute (on 9)
Nohar Rosenthal / backing vocals (on 9)
Merav Ben-David / vocals (on 7)
Benny Hendel / vocals (on 5)

Releases information
Headline 2001, HDL 506

Another links

Page on progarchives.com
Reviews on psychedelicfolk.homestead.com

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