Sounds of Yemen
Fleeing persecution, the late 1940s and early 1950s saw several waves of migration by Yemenite Jews to Israel, bringing with them not only a rich and ancient heritage in terms of language and culture, but also music, "mostly religious and ceremonial" in style. Among these new arrivals, hailing from San'a, Yemen, was singer and writer Aharon Amram, who immigrated to Israel as a child and went on to become one of the most prominent and prolific representatives of the Yemenite-Israeli music scene. Tel Aviv's Fortuna Records has now compiled and released the generous anthology showcasing Amram's standout work, which spans four decades and incorporates a wide array of styles.
"From the dawn of the sixties, and for over four decades, Amram recorded and released dozens of records on his independent record label, 'Sounds of Yemen'. A pioneer of his time, Amram combined in his repertoire religious songs (mostly penned by Rabbi Shalom Shabazi) as well as secular songs which he wrote himself. Alongside traditional compositions, Amram experimented with Western electric instruments such as guitar, bass, organ and a drum set, as well as with rock and soul arrangements. This mosaic created a unique sound signature which became the foundation for today’s Middle Eastern “Mizrahi” music, and the presence of this foundation is felt to this very day," the release notes read.
The "Sounds of Yemen (1962-1987)" collection brings us 20 tracks from Amram's vast catalogue – including "timeless hits, obscure tracks as well as previously unreleased material" – revealing a tireless innovator always on par with the zeitgeist, not shying away from integrating new elements into his music such as drum machines or synthesizers and thus "remaining [musically] relevant for years." To this day, "[...] his songs can be heard in weddings, haflas and other celebratory events" and continue to inspire new generations of artists. Listening to this latest anthology is a celebration in and of itself that we deem impossible not to vibe with. Amram's voice effortlessly soars over diverse arrangements, delivering an exceptionally stimulating backdrop to festive gatherings and general merrymaking, and making it evident why so many consider him "the undisputed king of Yemenite music."
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