Music

Uncle Roland’s Flying Machine

This album is our most innovative recording yet. Written over the last couple of years, it is made up almost entirely of original music. Although the klezmer and Balkan roots of the band are still there, “Uncle Roland” takes them in a new and distinctive direction – from the strands of Eastern Europe, South America and the Middle East, we have distilled something quintessentially our own.
There are also plenty of stories behind the tunes. Pete’s Uncle Roland himself was indeed building the eponymous flying machine right up till his death. The rest of the music was inspired by (amongst other things) dusty Algerian ruins, wide open Lincolnshire landscapes, policemen looking the other way, Elizabethan dances, and the sublime moment during wallpaper stripping when it all comes off in one big strip.
The album has already had some great reviews. The Guardian described us as “True originals”, The Herald says the album is “wholeheartedly recommended”, and according to The Times we achieve “a rare sense of balance and grace”.

For us, perhaps the best thing is that the album is very much a group sound. Even when there is a beautiful tune soaring over the top, if you listen carefully you can always hear all the interesting stuff bubbling up underneath.

Salt

Our second album “Salt” was released late March 2007 and is distributed in the UK by Proper Distribution. Here’s what the critics had to say…

“Sexy, vivacious, wonderfully mischevious yet exquisitely intense…their indefatigable musical energy couldn’t fail to touch you” Living Tradition

“There is something about this fearless Edinburgh quintet that it’s impossible not to like…that Moishe’s Bagel are a crack unit of musicians is obvious” Songlines

“has you gripped to your seat, marveling at the sheer audacity of the musicians” FRoots

“Virtuosity and sparklingly original pieces…small wonder that Moishe’s Bagel are kicking up a fuss in live settings” Daily Telegraph

“The music is fast and dynamic or subtle and seductive, and it’s full of unexpected twists…this is a CD for extended listening” Rock & Reel

“In their hands, such distinctive rhythmic forms sound surprisingly compatible” The Guardian
Track listings

1. Tantz Glassidic
2. Sidi-kasem, la Bonhomie
3. El Coche Amarillo 23
4. Czech set (Pristav/the Bouncing Czech)
5. Give me a lift to Tsfat/Odessa Bulgar
6. Amondala
7. Seven-eleven (Makedonsko Devojce/Osogovko Oro)
8. Flying by Jewish Radar
9. Lament
10. The Spar Shuffle
11. A Nakht in Gan Eydn

Don’t Spare The Horses

Our debut CD, released 2005, features over an hour of pure Moishe’s Bagel passion. Here are the details…
Track listings

1. Lev’s Freilachs
2. Bageliser/Behusher Chosid
3. The MacGoldbergs’ Jig & Reel
4. Breton Tune/Ajde Jano
5. Galitzyaner Tantz
6. Tarras Freilachs/Hungarian Groove
7. Hora no.1/Gankino
8. Nicholson’s Dilemma
9. Uncle Elef & Friends
10. Nifty’s Freilachs/Devotedly Buoyant at Abos