Search - Mystic Fugu Orchestra :: Zohar

Brilliant in it's impenatrability!

Brandon H. Borrman | New York | 01/17/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If I could give thirty stars I would! Never have I run across a disc full of such forbidding mystery. A challenge for every one who says "I like all music." If you get through this one, and smile with delight at it's dizzying power and irony, than you can rightly lay claim to the above phrase. I heard this in passing five years ago when I worked at a little record shop. I've been kicking myself ever since for not buying it. Now it is mine!"

An inside joke?

SPM | Eugene, Oregon | 12/10/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"On this EP, John Zorn and Yamatsuka Eye are poking fun at old klezmer 78s. Somewhere in the thick blanket of crackling static is the sound of Eye chanting while Zorn plays harmonium. If you can make out what these two guys are doing, it sounds pretty good. It's a spare, improvised recreation of old Jewish folk music, emphasizing the ceremonial songs and chants.But the static is too thick. And the album is too short. The songs aren't really songs, either. Zorn and Eye have cut their improvs into chunks of random length. If you own everything by Zorn already (like me), you might as well buy this. It isn't a complete waste. I still listen to it once a month. There's something authentic about it that keeps me interested. But if you don't like weird music, sound effects, or experimental ethnic stuff, don't bother with this CD."

I don't get it.

Michael Stack | North Chelmsford, MA USA | 12/19/2005

(1 out of 5 stars)

""Zohar" is perhaps one of the oddest records in the catalog of John Zorn. The record, "inspired by historical recordings of ancient Judaica", is presented as a 'found' recording, complete with endless analog noise and scratching dubbed in. The problem is that the noise added is in fact louder than the music. But more on that in a minute.



The music itself-- performed by Yamantaka Eye (credited as Rav Yechida) on vocals and John Zorn (Rav Tzizit) on harmonium consists primarily of droning or klezmerish harmonium with Eye chanting and moaning, typically in his upper register above it. At its best, its agile and intriguing ("Frog Doina") or droning and moody ("Book of Splendors"), but at its worse its downright irritating ("Goniff Dance") and dull (the seemingly endless "Rav Nova"). To make matters worse, the noise dubbed in is so aggressive that you can't always make out what's going on behind it.



I realize this was meant to be somewhat irreverent and humorous, but truthfully, I feel like the guy who missed the joke. Some folks love this recording, but honestly it's the only thing I own by Zorn that I can't say I enjoyed at all."