It is three years now since I reviewed a very impressive album, Moving Aloud, by Israeli singer-songwriter, Aviram Tzur. You can see the review by clicking on the button here;
Since then, Aviram has started a multi-generational collaboration with his very talented daughter, Gali, and I did play a single from them on my radio show of 31st January of this year (to listen to all my radio shows on podcast, simply go to https://progzilla.com/category/podcast/lazland )
We now have a ten-track album from them, Cloud of Years, available at Bandcamp at https://gali-aviram.bandcamp.com/album/cloud-of-years-album-2026
This is an intelligent, intimate, and emotional work.
It starts off with Still Follow You, a song I believe of the love felt by these two for each other, pledging mutual support for this and other journeys through life. In my review of Moving Aloud, I referred to the Cat Stevens sense, and Aviram’s voice certainly does bring that back to me. Gali has the most melodic female voice, quite gorgeously delicate, and what you notice throughout this track and album is the high standard of musicianship, complex guitar work, lush piano, some fine bass melodies, a Hammond lurking in the background. A very strong start to proceedings, embedded at the foot of the review to give you a taste of what to expect.
Echoes Calling talks about leaving fears and thoughts behind, and moving forward, taking over and controlling the mind, statements I can certainly empathise with. There is a nice slide guitar on this, adding a touch of Americana to a gorgeous tune, the harmonies strong, and in amongst all this, I do hear some Floydian influences, around Meddle period, and as it progresses, we have the electric guitar riffs introduced, the song rocking out, the vocals prominent in the mix.
Without Me puts doubts behind and brings a pledge of togetherness. Again, there are some very good electric guitar notes featured in this, the interplay with piano, voice, and acoustic guitars pleasing, and the solo when it arrives is impressive. I do like the vocal cries Gali creates; an ethereal sense added to proceedings. This is a very good piece of music, some nice blues licks apparent, the volume again turned up as we move to the close.
One Day strives to speed up time, to reach the light, and there is a sense on this one of frustration at societal boundaries. Harmonies abound, and there is a warmth in the soundscapes created when they sing of breaking the bounds. A strong folk-rock track, but with more ghostly Gilmour-esque notes entering our consciousness in the background.
Future Voices strikes me as being a political song, and not complimentary about the government in their homeland, the PM playing the cards as he likes, a sense of despair at where the country finds itself amidst all the madnesses. I have embedded this song at the foot of the review, and you will note the stunning vocal Gali provides for us on this. An interesting cross-generational plea from the heart for change, wrapped up in a song which cleverly avoids the dangerous trap of falling into melancholic ranting. Indeed, the sax is warm and wraps its arms around the song. My only complaint here is that it is only three minutes long – there was space for far more.
Feel Inside is lyrically very introspective. The guitar work puts me in mind of Knopfler, which is, of course, no bad thing at all, and this is a song with a soul stripped bare before it explodes very nicely as control is lost, and we are treated to a dance of middle eastern rhythms, so some nice contrasts.
When I’m Back lyrically has a nice summary of this album – “connecting the dots, strumming my chords, moving up with the words”. The slide guitar drips with feeling, as the track progresses there is a catchiness before another pile on of rock music, a song which really does deserve far wider airplay.
Inner Forest Party talks about how in company, the protagonist is the life and soul, but once everybody goes away, there is a need to hide. We get some trumpet on this, full of the blues, some great percussion, a cello inviting the dance, but mournful, the song and dance, though, kept going by the relentless guitar strumming - this one is a Janus of moods, the bright side gorgeously bright and foot tapping along.
What are the Odds is the penultimate track and strikes me as being a commentary on a broken community, as if the writer is entering into a quantum singularity where places are recognisable, but clearly distorted, different from the stark reality. I have embedded this at the foot of the review as well, and you will note the passionate guitar work, and the swirling synths which would grace many a known prog rock band. The production is crystal-clear – a sonic delight and this duo again show how they can add rock textures to their music with ease, turning moods at the drop of a note.
We close with Dual Introspection, which is as thoughtful as the title suggests. I love the piano and Aviram voice that starts this, before Gali adds her emotional texture to the mix. She is a find for me this year, for sure, at times her voice achingly beautiful, rising above this earth and self. There is another panoramic guitar solo, albeit a short one.
This is a very good album, and I look forward to seeing how this project develops.