How do you like them 'Tapuhim?'

The Apples' new album improves over the first two.

By ASI GAL
the apples 224.88 (photo credit: Courtesy)
the apples 224.88
(photo credit: Courtesy)
The Apples (Ha'tapuhim) latest album, Buzzin' About, is groovy, funky, unique, happy and not at all tedious. It is important to note here that in their two previous albums tediousness was present. I was enraptured from the first sounds of their first album, which a friend introduced me to because, as she put it, "You've got to hear it." Good solid funk emanated from the speakers, filling the room. My face was graced with an instant smile. My body convulsed and jerked around in the act that I call dancing but that my friends consider cute, humorous and embarrassing when done in public. However, as the song progressed, it became, as I mentioned, tedious. Erez Toders, one of the two DJs in the band, is aware of said problem. "At the first concerts, we just jammed on for hours. It started off as a lot of fun but we noticed the crowd tiring from the constant change of harmony. The problem was also present on our first albums, which were more jam sessions than anything else. However, on this album we worked hard on the sound and arrangements. We're very pleased with the end result" After Attention, their second album, the 9-member-band started touring abroad. Their unique sound reached Adrian Gibson, a major player on the British musical scene, who released the album's title track as a single on his label Freestyle Records. The single was a compilation promo that put the band on par with the some of the best funk bands in the world. In 2007, they did a three-week tour in the UK, even playing a show at London's famous Jazz Cafe. Last June, The Apples released a funky cover version of Rage Against The Machine's "Killing in the Name of". The single was wildly popular with great sales and was sampled by well-known DJs including Annie Mac and Mr. Scruff. Radio stations in Australia, America, Europe and Japan gave it much airplay, which led to a second European tour of England and Belgium. "We love touring," Toders says, "It's a great experience and the chemistry within the band is amazing." Yaron Ouzana, the band's trombonist couldn't agree more, "I love everyone in the band! I love them not only as people but as musicians, too. Each one brings his style to the group. There is a great dialogue among us - among the members who play instruments and the DJs. It's a dialogue that we managed to perfect but still work on constantly." On August 14 the band celebrates the debut of their new album at a special show with special guests DJ Andy Smith (who used to collaborate with Portishead and Shlomo Bar, "the godfather of Israeli soul" according to Toders) and Yair Nitzani (who plans to recreate his classic '80s character Hashem Tamid). "We are very excited about the show. We worked very hard on it and I'm sure it will pay off," says Ouzana. In agreement, Toders adds that, "our first and foremost goal is that the audience has a good time. The Apples take the stage at 8:30 p.m. on August 14 at Israel's Exhibition Grounds in Hangar10, Tel Aviv. Tickets are NIS 90/120 to be ordered at (03) 521-5222. www.myspace.com/theapplesmusic