Name: Rosh Ballata
Brand: Malka Spigel

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

LP-SWIM-100

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Colour

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music US

Limited edition

Release date

2018-11-23

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier US

Redeye

Tax rate US

Sales:8.875

UPC / Barcode

5024545833010

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Total Cap

1 / Extended format: No / LP / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

CD-SWIM-100

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5024545833027

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1 / CD / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

Artist

Malka Spigel

Genre US

Label US

Swim

Malka Spigel is a renowned artist and musician who made her mark in the music industry as a member of Minimal Compact, a pioneering band known for their minimal post-punk/punk-funk sound. Alongside her bandmates, Malka collaborated with esteemed artists such as Tuxedomoon's Peter Principle and Wire's Colin Newman. She also contributed to the soundtrack of Wim Wender's film Wings of Desire. In addition to her musical achievements, Malka ventured into visual art, specializing in video and photography. Her work has been showcased at prestigious venues like the Royal Festival Hall in London.

Throughout her career, Malka formed a strong partnership with Colin Newman, whom she married in 1986. Together, they established the Swim label to release their own projects and support other artists' work. Immersion, one of their notable collaborations, created an installation at IMMA Dublin in 1996 that sparked Malka's interest in visual art alongside her musical pursuits.

In pursuit of her passion for visual art, Malka obtained a fine arts degree from 2000 to 2002. She gained recognition within the lomo community for her extensive collection of photography work captured using a lomo LCA camera. Her artistic journey continues as she creates captivating video works with Immersion and produces video clips for various artists like Vapourspace and Minimal Compact.

New Wave / Post Punk

A welcome reissue for a lost classic of left field pop. 

Throughout the 1980s Malka Spigel was the bassist and vocalist with influential post punk band Minimal Compact. Formed in Amsterdam by three Tel Aviv émigrés, who would produce a series of highly prescient albums and singles. But by 1988 the band had dissolved and Spigel began to plot her next move.. Released in 1993, Rosh Ballata was a quantum leap forward from anything she had created before. The album takes its cue from the worlds of shoegaze and trip hop, yet it wears these influences very lightly. More significantly, unlike every other indie record of the era, it would be sung in Hebrew. The over-riding mood is one of optimism and unfolding possibilities. This is typified by the sun-drenched glide of Besof Heyom, which comes over like the soundtrack to an infinite hazy summer, whilst the skipping rhythms of Lisgor Sipor Yashan might almost suggest Kylie Minogue in a parallel world! There are moments of shade too, such as the brooding psychedelic drift of Yestiney or the mesmeric metallic art pop of Rotsa Ladat Od. Spigel worked closely with Wire main-man Colin Newman with input from former Minimal Compact colleague Samy Birnbach - who also wrote the lyrics to two songs. 2 songs feature texts by the poets Anton Shammas and Dahlia Ravikovich. The album was produced by Newman in their home studio. An album of intelligent but heartfelt internationalist pop. It overflows with ambition and a desire to communicate with the listener, no matter what language they speak.

Rosh Ballata

Music US