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IDAN RAICHEL
The Idan Raichel Project Cumbancha ***

The Idan Raichel Project is a funked up Israeli/African coalition of musicians, a rhythm nation that, one suspects, owes more to its Ethiopian than to its Israeli roots. Chief bottlewasher Idan Raichel is Israel's answer to Peter Gabriel, a collaborator who thrives on musical collisions and cross-fertilisation. The IRP has a hypnotic, soporific effect (but not in the vein of say, a Riverdance soundtrack, possibly the Irish equivalent of this phenomenally successful studio and road show), and may even owe some of its confidence to the Afro Celts, particularly in its marriage of bold vocal lines with primal rhythms. Raichel's own voice is a genteel affair, re-fuelled by his Israeli-Ethiopian compadres: the Neville Brothers of this impressive set piece. www.idanraichelproject.com  Siobhán Long