The Israeli singer-guitarist Tamar Aphek has ended up with the best release this week, I think. All Bets Are Off, out tomorrow on the seminal Kill Rock Stars label, offers up wry and inventive post-punk. The material here also succeeds thanks to the musician's prowess, making this the rare successful mix of technique and style.
"All I Know" slides in like a solo cut from Kendra Smith, while "Russian Winter" rattles and crashes like Goldfrapp, nearly. Elsewhere, "Crossbow" is impressive hard rock, with a delicious guitar-riff at its center, while "Nothing Can Surprise Me" and "Beautiful Confusion" marry a jazzy inventiveness with a vocal approach that reminds me of Laetitia Sadier's solo recordings. Closing with a fine cover of "As Time Goes By", Tamar Aphek reveals that she's capable of mastering nearly any genre.
All Bets are Off is out on Kill Rock Stars.
More details on the Tamar Aphek Facebook page.
[Photo: Kill Rock Stars]