This single is in a league of its own in many respects. It's the first Israeli drug rock record I can remember hearing coming out of the Tel Aviv underground and it comes sporting the sort of artwork that is guaranteed to offend any ultra-Zionists as it depicts the singer on a bed with a duvet cover in the colours of the Israeli flag only with a blue rectangle instead of parallel lines and a pentacle of blood instead of the star of David. The implication of the pose is that it might be menstrual blood, too, all of which certainly grabbed my attention before I'd even put the CD on to give it a listen.
Of course the band have also spent a lot of time in England and I should have seen them at least twice by now as one of the gigs I actually turned up at the wrong venue as I hadn't heard about it being changed. This was not down to either Spiritwo or Martin Rev but a combination of poor promoters and my not paying attention.
The first song, Mesumamin, translates as "On Drugs" and opens like it might be an alternative Ofra Haza song. It quickly leaves that notion behind, though, as it melds your mind with bits that sound like Johnette Napolitano in a souk and other bits that are sort of Trans-Global Underground meets Muse. It's like you have no focus and have left your mind blown apart while the singer's voice keeps getting higher before falling in this pit. It's a real rollercoaster of a trip as well as in impressive vocal range and very interesting and arresting.
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Face to Face opens like an old Les Rita Mitsouko sort of feel before it explodes as she tells us she wants to talk to us face to face to face and in a shrill voice that would need to be obeyed just before the flute comes in. The singer then starts asking for some peace and a life without borders. Is this so hard to ask for? Well this is shrill and scary and has some incredible crescendos like going from peace to war overnight and back to peace a week later and then suddenly she's singing like she's in Arch Enemy. It's one hell of a song.
Spiritwo really need to be listened to as no review can thoroughly do justice to what they are about or what they sound like.
Find out more at: Spiritwo online
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