Album artwork for Rosh Ballata by Malka Spigel

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.

LP - Standard Black Vinyl

CD - Standard CD

Malka Spigel

Rosh Ballata

Swim
Album artwork for Rosh Ballata by Malka Spigel
LP

$26.99

Released 11/23/2018Catalog Number

LP-SWIM-100

Learn more
Album artwork for Rosh Ballata by Malka Spigel
CD

$15.99

Released 11/23/2018Catalog Number

CD-SWIM-100

Learn more
Malka Spigel

Rosh Ballata

Swim
Album artwork for Rosh Ballata by Malka Spigel
LP

$26.99

Released 11/23/2018Catalog Number

LP-SWIM-100

Learn more
Album artwork for Rosh Ballata by Malka Spigel
CD

$15.99

Released 11/23/2018Catalog Number

CD-SWIM-100

Learn more

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.

LP - Standard Black Vinyl

CD - Standard CD