Israeli artist Sivan Langer enthralls across his new album ROUGH MIX, drawing stylistically from grunge and psychedelic rock — in addition to spaces of jazz, punk, and experimental rock. The release is a culmination of years spent exploring music not just as sound, but as a conceptual and emotional language. Crafted in his home studio in the Galilee — located in a warzone — ROUGH MIX is a testament to Langer’s DIY ethic, artistic resilience, and self-searching introspection. The production excels in its enjoyable variety, from the grunge-rock ferocity “Three Monkey Song” and the hazy rock intrigue within “Can’t Stand” to the nostalgic psych-folk dreaminess of “Alibi.”
Invigorating with its climactic structural push, “Three Monkey Song” seamlessly melds debonair vocal enticement and grungy distortion. “I’m not here, I’m not there, I don’t care,” Langer sings, channeling a palpable sense of momentum between the sporadic doses of guitar and steadier distortion-friendly chorus’ embrace. The lush vocal tone infuses within a textured rock ardor for a sound enjoyably reminiscent of Super Furry Animals. Another standout, “Alibi” succeeds in another stylistic realm entirely — invoking a lushly harmonious psych-folk appeal in its serene acoustic strums, mellow piano, and expressive backing vocal layers. Throughout the release, Langer establishes a knack for immersive tonal variety between heavier rock and more hypnotic pursuits.
Elsewhere, “Let’s Rock It” feels lovably vintage in its shimmering organs and contagious guitar riffs — complemented by an introspective vocal delivery that feels parts Ray Davies and Syd Barrett. “Screw it, let’s do it. Fuck it, let’s rock it now,” the vocals exude a delectably carefree swagger, punctuated by twanging guitars that drive into a sating finale. “The Second Cup” continues that psych-friendly throwback captivation, also highlighting pulsating acoustics and solemn organs within a reserved vocal delivery.
A heartfelt sincerity emanates on the excellent “Simple Song,” which Langer wrote after experiencing a period of depression and feeling an all-around negativity about life. “In these moments, people tend to go to their place of security, which for me is music, words, and songwriting,” Langer explains. The melodic guitars and warbled synth backing surround a series of lyrical laments — “when nothing seems to be good, but you know it really should,” — into a meditative title-touting warmness, which plays like a mantra in reminding of music’s comforting power. Tender guitar twangs flow charmingly across the second half, adding a bluesy psychedelic quality to the initial quaintness.
The jovial “World Unite” concludes the album with a sense of warming community, imploring to “unite and feel alright,” as glistening guitars move breezily within expanding vocal layers. ROUGH MIX captivates in its accounts of personal struggle, while also emphasizing how perseverance, connection, and a love for music can help prevail through difficult times. Set within an eclectic aesthetical array that’s consistently melodic, these themes resonate impactfully throughout ROUGH MIX, a decisive success from Sivan Langer.
