"Skyland,
named after the farm [in which the album was recorded], has
to be one of the most ear-opening albums of the year. During
the 1960s, Kaleidoscope featuring David Lindley stretched the
boundaries of world music within a rock band about as far as
they could be stretched, walking away with a reputation as heroes
for sonic adventurers. The Guy Mendilow Band may not be quite
as rambunctious,
but
they are no less daring."
—Boomer's Guide to Music & News
"This
isn’t for quirky ears, it’s for jaded ears that
need to be shaken awake with something substantially different
that keeps the interest on the beam throughout. Delightfully
different, even when it seems like it might be familiar. "
—Chris Spector, Midwest Record
“The
buoyant, life-affirming, sweetly acoustic music of Israeli-born
Mendilow incorporates influences from across the Middle East,
Africa, South America and beyond. It's a folk music of hope
and affirmation, sophisticated in its delivery but easily accessible
to listeners anywhere. ” — Howard Reich,
Chicago Tribune
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About
Skyland
In the autumn and winter of 2006, the Guy Mendilow Band briefly
took over Skyland Farm, a 17th century Berkshire farmhouse situated
on 1500 acres of wildlife trust. In a whirlwind operation, the
group transformed the old carriage house into a live mic room
and the living room into a control room with cables running through
the kitchen. Between ice storms that nearly sent them packing,
and heated only by Skyland's woodstoves, stoked between takes,
the band recorded this album... |
{{Note: The order of the tracks here differs
from actual order on CD}}
1.
Rain, Rain, Beautiful Rain (Joseph Shabalala, Arr. G. Mendilow)
This is a song about waiting for rain, metaphorically and literally, in
places that need it. Guy learned the song from Ladysmith Black Mambazo
in a song-swap between their group and the American Boychoir, with whom
Guy was singing. Having lived in South Africa during the height of Apartheid,
singing this song with Ladysmith was an especially moving experience.
2. Sala'am
(M. Ben Ari/G. Mendilow) In 2005, the Consul General of Israel to New
England invited us to perform several concerts with the aim of helping
the Jewish community reach out and connect with families from different
backgrounds. This was one of the songs Guy prepared for the occasion.
Sheva’s Salaam had been an anthem of the peace movement in Israel,
and Guy added new music and words.
3. Whistler’s
Brother (G. Mendilow)
People told us that the overtone singing sounds like a flute. So we decided
to play a game in which we paired the overtone singing with Andy’s
bamboo flute.Sala'am (M. Ben Ari/G. Mendilow)
4. Durme
Durme (Trad. Ladino, Arr. G. Mendilow)
5. Cuando
Veo Hija Ermoza (Trad. Ladino, Arr. Z. Dzagnidze/Assemblea Mediterranea
and G. Mendilow)
6. Awendeje
(G. Mendilow)
Featuring berimbau, electric mbira and overtone singing, alongside vocals
and zills.
7.
Express (A. Bergman)
Featuring a traditional Chinese brass jaw harp which produces up to 4
simultaneous notes.
8. Depois
Que O Ilê Passar
(M. Souza de Jesus, Arr. V. Rodriguez/G. Mendilow)
Rajdulari is a dear friend who at one point served as the group’s
full-time vocalist. Her mother had survived bone cancer and, during hospital
treatments, Rajdulari would sing to her. This was one of her mother’s
favorites, and when she taught it to us it became one of our favorites
as well. It seemed appropriate to invite Rajdulari to sing it with us
again here.
9. Ishmael
(G. Mendilow)
A song for peace about two brothers who we hope will one day learn to
recognize each other as human again. The seed of this song was taught
to Guy by an elder Sufi gentleman in Anne Arbor, MI. We sing it in the
Turkish dialect of Arabic in which he sang it. It's inspired by Seeds
of Peace, a peacemaking organization working with Palestinian and Israeli
youth and adult educators, with whom Guy has been collaborating since
2006.
10.
Experiment (G. Mendilow)
Featuring overtone singing, berimbau and jaw harp
11. Le
Mélange de Ouaouaron (D. Gale)
We had a great time when Daniel's world of Cajun music jumped into our
world. The resulting hybrid offspring has the berimbau playing the role
of the drum kit and the jaw harps holding down the bassline. The Cajun
French song title translates as "The Bullfrog Medley" (or, perhaps
more appropriately, “The Mixup of the Frogs”)
12. La
Serena (Trad. Ladino, Arr. G. Mendilow)
13. Blues
For Dino (Berimbau Blues) (G. Mendilow)
A slide berimbau blues for Dino Nascimento.
14. Amazing
Grace (Trad. Arr. G. Mendilow)
For T. J. Mendilow, a childhood friend who passed away February 25 2006.
Produced by Guy Mendilow & Andy Bergman
Cover artwork (On His Next Walk...) by Jovielle Gers.
Additional artwork (The Further Misadventures of the Hapless Lion)
by Shari Mendler.
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