Yehuda Poliker's third solo
album, Afar VeAvak, or, Ashes and Dust, was released in 1988, and deals once
more with the heavy topic of WW2 and being second generation to Holocaust
survivors. Poliker continues here his collaborative work with Yaakov Gilaad.
The album title is reflected in a
line of the eponymous first song ''eternity is ashes and dust'', because of the
profound wounds of the war can never be truly cured. The song relentlessly
depicts the futility of war, and the uncertainty of a person's journey through
all this destruction.
The songs depict very desperate people whose dreams are shattered because of war and hatred.
Each melody is profoundly melancholic and generates a very heavy atmosphere in spite of a few more rhythmic songs such as Radio Ramalla.
A couple years ago I found a limited 2 cd reissue of this album, which was released in 2008.
On it, the first CD is the album
with improved sound (as far as I can tell), and the second is a short radio
show which had aired in 1986 on the eve of the Holocaust memorial day and
includes an interview of Poliker and some songs, including a different version
for track 6 ''the old Treblinka station''.
This is a very difficult album to listen to, I have to admit that. It's very powerful and never relents in its sadness, nor should it, really. WW2 and the Holocaust are traumatic, and everyone should acknowledge that fact.
I really admire Yehuda Poliker and Yaakov Gilaad's ability to write such songs and feel enriched by their works.
Discgos details lnstruments, composition of lyrics and melodies, and production team.
Instruments on this album:
Accordion, Baglama, Bass, Bass Guitar, Bouzouki, Contrabass, Drums, Electronics, Effects, Electric Guitar, Keyboard, Percussion, Sampler.
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