Young Israelites – Endlessly

About two and a half years after the release of their highly acclaimed 6-track EP Stay By My Side, Israel’s rocksteady & reggae band Young Israelites have unleashed their first full-length studio album titled Endlessly. While their debut EP showcased two sides of the trio as besides three love ballads it also featured three conscious roots reggae tracks, this brand new collection of tunes almost solely deals with affairs of the heart. Only the last track, the moving Love Is For Everyone, is a tune with a clear message.

Just like Brooklyn outfit The Frightners and others did before them, Young Israelites – formed by Tristan Braams, Tal Eshel, and Nate Lev – cannily try to evoke the rocksteady era from the second half of the 1960s. And indeed, with their faithful but distinctive performance of the songs featured on this album they succeed in doing so pretty well. The riddims are crisp and compelling, while the very capable lead vocalist has a unique vocal style which simply sounds great. Add to this the wonderful sounding backing vocalists and each and every tune is one to fulljoy.

Included are already known previously released singles Can’t Get Enough and Please (Don’t Ever Let Me Go) which gets the album started. Remain eight never before heard songs including the beautiful lovers piece Prelude, on which the three vocalists are accompanied by an acoustic guitar. Would have loved to hear this track longer than the twenty seconds shy of two minutes that it lasts. No need to go into every single track. Songs that deal with the various aspects of love, the relaxing vibes that musically and vocally are created, and the overall high quality, make that everything on this album simply needs to be heard. Personal favourites are tunes like Please (Don’t Ever Let Me Go), Can’t Get Enough, and the title track Endlessly.

In all, Endlessly is a sonically pleasing album full of lovely stuff to listen to.