The New York Times review:
‘THE IDAN RAICHEL PROJECT’ (Cumbancha)

The Idan Raichel Project was a huge hit in Israel for good reason: it envisions a modern, multicultural nation where voices of young and old, Ethiopian and Yemenite, are all heard in songs devoted to love and tolerance. Idan Raichel is the keyboardist, songwriter and producer behind the scenes, and he’s clearly as familiar with Peter Gabriel as with Middle Eastern traditions. His arrangements bind the voices together in somber minor-mode anthems paced by electronic beats, earnestly seeking to uplift.

Billboard Magazine Review:

ARTIST: THE IDAN RAICHEL PROJECT
ALBUM: THE IDAN RAICHEL PROJECT

This disc is surely one of the most fascinating titles to emerge in world music this year. Israeli keyboardist/composer Idan Raichel, who has become quite an item among Israel's and Ethiopia's music fans, collaborates here with Ethiopian immigrants in Israel, particularly vocalist Cabra Casey. The tunes are terribly alluring, and each song definitely has a life of its own. Make note of the superb, haunting groove of "Mi'Ma'amakim," an exquisite blending of a Raichel lyric and "Nanu Nanu Ney," a traditional Ethiopian song. "Brong Faya," sung by Suriname native Sergio Braams, boasts a strong hint of reggae, while "Azini," featuring Arab-Israeli vocalist Mira Anwar Awad, is a dramatic ballad with a pronounced Middle Eastern feel. Raichel's U.S. debut is a multi-ethnic tour de force.