Moshav Band - Misplaced (CD)

All Music Guide

Contemporary Christian musicians can join under the CCM flag, but what happens when similarly themed spiritual music is played by Jews? There isn't a CJM tag yet, but if there was, that's where the reggae/hiphop heavy Matisyahu and this talented trio would land. The group's eighth release follows its Best Of compilation by a year and finds the threesome slimming down its name by losing "band" and moving from a more folksy approach to a fuller electronic/world beat, heavily influenced by Peter Gabriel. Sung predominantly in English with occasional forays into Hebrew, the sound is propulsive, full and filled with Middle Eastern chord changes. Driven by a percussive heavy style (Critters Buggin' and well known session drummer Matt Chamberlain assists on a few tracks) and a slick but non commercial sheen, Moshav keeps its spiritually based lyrics ambiguous enough to apply to any religion. Occasional clunkers such as the clichéd "Heart is Open" notwithstanding, tracks like the moody "Abba Shimon" mesh a traditional Jewish style with sweeping electric guitars and arena filling sound. The result sounds entirely natural in its ability to blend the timehonored and contemporary without losing sight of pop song structure. No fewer than eleven guest musicians spread out through the 13 tunes bolster the music, but Duvid Swirsky's Eddie Vedderstyled vocals strike a successful balance between radio ready and the songs' more intimate concepts. A snappy cover of Tom Waits' "Jockey Full of Bourbon" is a highlight of this engaging album, due to Waits visually arresting lyrics and how Moshav bends its melody to highlight the song's Middle Eastern influences. Some material is a bit undercooked and/or sappy, but in general this makes an excellent introduction to a group that, along with Matisyahu, has the talent to introduce the Western world to a vibrant and innovative combination of styles.

- Hal Horowitz, All Music Guide