Idan Raichel shows off songs from new album

Musician tells stories behind songs from new album "Quarter to Six" at intimate preview gig at Tel Aviv Port.

By YONI COHEN
Idan Raichel shares snippets from new album, Tel Aviv (photo credit: Orit Penini)
Idan Raichel shares snippets from new album, Tel Aviv
(photo credit: Orit Penini)
Idan Raichel took time out from his busy schedule on Monday to perform a few select songs from The Idan Raichel Project’s latest album, Quarter to Six, at the Tel Aviv Port’s Beit Hayotzer.
The ever calm-and-collected singer took his place at a grand piano and proceeded to regale assembled members of the press with the stories behind the songs on his latest album.
Raichel spoke of his journey during the making of the album and the importance of finding the right collaborators.
He explained that the album focuses on that special time of day which for him symbolizes a crossroads in life that “isn’t here yet, but isn’t quite there.” He used the example of a Friday evening and a mother waiting for Shabbat to start: that special time when the week is ending, but the day of rest has not yet begun.
Raichel gave heartfelt renditions of two already-released singles from the album, “Achshav Karov” (“Close Now”) and “Belayla” (“At Night”), which have received widespread praise.
The singer, known for featuring a range of artists from different backgrounds, said he doesn’t feel the need to always sing the songs he writes.
“I love all the singers in my project. They really move me when they sing,” he told the intimate crowd of about 30 journalists.
To the amusement of those present, Raichel compared his artistic collaborations to director Woody Allen’s penchant for sometimes choosing to perform in the films that he writes, and other times not.
Always looking for new talent, Raichel is keen to display the diverse range of singers he works with. Perhaps the most interesting collaboration for this new album is German countertenor Andreas Scholl, the first time a German-language song is to be released in Israel. Raichel played a recording of the classical singer’s voice on his laptop, while accompanying it on the piano. Despite the poor recording quality – Raichel admitted the song was taped in a hotel room – it was as if Scholl were live on stage in Tel Aviv.
Raichel was straightforward, saying it was very important for him to take time out of his busy schedule to remember why he started in the business in the first place.
“Sometimes I have to leave the project for a while in order to keep things real,” he said.
To celebrate the launch of the new album The Idan Raichel Project will perform at the Amphitheater in Caesarea from June 11 to 15.