Knesiyat Hasekhel
Encyclopedia
Knesiyat Hasekhel is an Israel
i rock
band
from Sderot
.
Their name is a translation into Hebrew
of Church of Reason, from Robert Pirsig's book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
.
The band has existed since the early 1990s, and has been one of Sderot's many musical messengers (along with Teapacks
and Sfatayim
).
One of its best-publicized efforts was a collaboration with Zehava Ben
.
The band was founded in the early '90s in the western part of Israel's Negev Desert. Blending new wave
and post-punk
influences (particularly Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
) and Mediterranean and Middle Eastern ethnic rock, the band soon realized they had outgrown the rural desert, and by 1992 the band had moved to Israel's cultural center Tel Aviv
to establish themselves as a national touring act, and begin production on their first studio album "whispered words" (nanadisk).
Their second full length and self-titled album "Knesiyat Hasekhel" was released in 1999 to great critical acclaim, and commercial success. The band was named "best rock group of 1999" by Israel's national radio station, and is invited to play all the major rock festivals and events around the country.
In 2001 Mashina
's Shlomi Bracha helped produce the band's third album "Rutz Yeled" (Run, Kid!), a studio album that was recorded live. Following the release of the album, the band joined Ehud Banai on the road, for a collaboration that continues to this day.
Their fourth album "Yadaiim Lemalah" (Hands Up) was released in 2004, and was produced for the first time by the band themselves.
In 2007 the band teamed up with a young new label to produce an ambitious project dubbed "Autobiography": re-recording their classic hits from the last two decades accompanied by a 40-piece orchestra composed of ethnic and traditional classical instruments. The live show that followed was produced specially for the prestigious national Israel Festival of 2007, and due to great popular demand the band then took the entire production, along with their orchestra, on tour.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i rock
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
from Sderot
Sderot
Sderot is a western Negev city in the Southern District of Israel. According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics , at the end of 2009 the city had a total population of 20,700. The city has been an ongoing target of Qassam rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip...
.
Their name is a translation into Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
of Church of Reason, from Robert Pirsig's book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values is a 1974 philosophical novel, the first of Robert M. Pirsig's texts in which he explores his Metaphysics of Quality.The book sold 5 million copies worldwide...
.
The band has existed since the early 1990s, and has been one of Sderot's many musical messengers (along with Teapacks
Teapacks
Teapacks was an Israeli band that formed in 1988 in the southern Israeli city of Sderot. Originally the band was named after the correction fluid Tipp-Ex, but the name was then changed so as not to infringe on the well-known brand....
and Sfatayim
Sfatayim
Sfatayim is a rock band from Sderot, Israel. The name means Lips in English. The band is considered to have consolidated an Israeli Moroccan style, blending the music of the mostly Moroccan immigrants of Sderot with international rock. The lead singer was Haïm Ulliel....
).
One of its best-publicized efforts was a collaboration with Zehava Ben
Zehava Ben
Zehava Ben is one of the most popular Israeli female vocalists in the Mizrahi music genre; the Middle Eastern-style of singing rising from Israel's Mizrahi Jewish population, dominating Israeli music in the 1990s and popular ever since.-Early life:...
.
The band was founded in the early '90s in the western part of Israel's Negev Desert. Blending new wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
and post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
influences (particularly Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian alternative rock band, formed in Melbourne in 1983. The band is fronted by Nick Cave and has featured international personnel throughout their career.-Formation and early releases :...
) and Mediterranean and Middle Eastern ethnic rock, the band soon realized they had outgrown the rural desert, and by 1992 the band had moved to Israel's cultural center Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
to establish themselves as a national touring act, and begin production on their first studio album "whispered words" (nanadisk).
Their second full length and self-titled album "Knesiyat Hasekhel" was released in 1999 to great critical acclaim, and commercial success. The band was named "best rock group of 1999" by Israel's national radio station, and is invited to play all the major rock festivals and events around the country.
In 2001 Mashina
Mashina
Mashina are an Israeli pop rock band which was active from 1984 to 1995, and then again from 2003 to the present. The band is considered by many to be Israel's most important and influential rock band...
's Shlomi Bracha helped produce the band's third album "Rutz Yeled" (Run, Kid!), a studio album that was recorded live. Following the release of the album, the band joined Ehud Banai on the road, for a collaboration that continues to this day.
Their fourth album "Yadaiim Lemalah" (Hands Up) was released in 2004, and was produced for the first time by the band themselves.
In 2007 the band teamed up with a young new label to produce an ambitious project dubbed "Autobiography": re-recording their classic hits from the last two decades accompanied by a 40-piece orchestra composed of ethnic and traditional classical instruments. The live show that followed was produced specially for the prestigious national Israel Festival of 2007, and due to great popular demand the band then took the entire production, along with their orchestra, on tour.
Discography
- Whisper Words (Nanadisk) – 1993
- Here are Songs (Hed ArtziHed ArtziHed Arzi Music , is an Israeli music company that is involved with producing music, importing albums from abroad, and distributing Israeli and international music...
) – 1994 E.P. - Church of Reason (Levantini) – 1999
- Run Child (NMC Records) – 2001
- Hands Up (NMC Records) – 2004
- Autobiography (Barbi Records) – 2007