Matti Caspi - Twilight (NMC 1981)

After five years during which Caspi was focusing on the production of albums for other artists, and on the recording of two albums that didn’t contain any new material, in 1981 Caspi’s fifth solo album came out, “Twilight. Like in Caspi’s first albums, this time Caspi didn’t write any lyrics, however the choice of lyrics shows how he has evolved and matured as an artist. Prior to this album’s recording there were a number of songs recorded in the late 70’s, including “Drums of the Two”, and “Prelude” (The Peace) which were shelved by Caspi (“The Peace” was recorded again for the album “You Are My Woman” in 2005).

Except two exceptions: “A Song” and “Whoever Sings”, all songs in the album describe many difficulties, mostly about the crumbling of romantic relationships. It even seems that the album cover’s mysteriousness suggests the album being a crossroads in the artist’s life.

In fact, because of the certain unity that guided the choice of lyrics, the versatile melodies show the ongoing widening of the artist’s horizons as a composer. Among the rest the albums includes samba and reggae songs, a Broadway musical style song, and some rock-funk songs. Production-wise Caspi continued to set new standards in this album. Caspi, who as usual played the keyboards, guitars and percussion, was joined by Haim Romano on the guitars, Jean Paul Zimbris on the drums, Koby Cohen on the bass, and also The Suburbs duo and singers Nurit Galron and Mazy Cohen as backing vocals. In most of the songs there was also a use of wind instruments and string instruments from the Israeli philharmonic, and even a harp. Caspi’s close acquaintance with Brazilian music has found its reflection, among the rest, in the long list of the special percussion instruments Matti has played in this album: surdo, vibroslap, reco-reco, afoxe, agogo, and more. It’s uncertain if there was ever any use of these instruments in any pop album recorded in Israel before.

The album has produced many songs which immediately became classics with its release. Some of them are: “A Song”, “You will Find the Way”, “Whoever Sings”, and “Days of Drought”.

In spite of the many wonderful songs in this album, it seems that “Days of Drought” is prominent as a unique example of Caspi’s talent. “Days of Drought” is based on the repeating guitar playing, a playing which dictates the harmonies but at the same time, also the syncopation rhythm of the song. Regarding the writing of this composition, Caspi told: “Yaakov Gilad gave me the lyrics. Many times I just place the text next to the piano or the guitar, and this time it was next to the guitar. I stared at it, just stared quietly. It’s as if I’m doing nothing, but the truth is it slowly penetrates me and I gradually begin hearing it in my head. At first I see it happening in the words, almost like they’re moving, and then suddenly I begin to feel it in my guts. And then I know I’m ready. I grabbed the guitar and it started. It surprised me as well. It began as you know it. At first I had a coordination problem between what I wanted to play and what I wanted to sing. Btu slowly it fell into place. In an hour… When I built the arrangement I saved a part for the classic guitar and a more powerful part for the electric guitar”.