Idan Raichel's musical collaboration is more like a tapestry than a project. An Israeli band blending sounds and musicians from the Ethiopian, African, Arabic and Yemenite worlds, the Idan Raichel Project has become a model of polyculturalism. But far from being a melting pot, the group is more of a mixed salad, where each musician's unique style and background is a visible, tangible part of each multifaceted collaboration.The Israeli Raichel and his bandmates played to a sold-out Levin Ballroom Wednesday night, with a crowd stretching beyond the group's generally college-aged fanbase, from middle-school aged children with their parents to even a few white-haired fans who came out to express Israeli pride.

It didn't matter whether the audience understood the Hebrew, Amharic (a Semitic language of Ethiopia), Farsi and occasionally Spanish lyrics. Notes and voices echoed-often hauntingly-and the piercing beats could hardly be contained by the ballroom. The band slipped some of its most popular songs in early, including its hits "Bo'ee" (Come with Me) and "Mi'Ma'amakim" (Out of the Depths). In these songs and others, combinations of voices and languages complemented both each other and themes of overcoming struggles-be they spiritual, amorous or war-related.

The audience-who throughout the concert sang along with the Project's anthemic choruses-seemed most enchanted by the sultry voices of group's female singers. They invoked powerful emotion from song to song, whether during slow ballads, Middle-Eastern style rock or Afro-beat.

The wide range of instruments was almost a voice itself. Early in the set, the band began one song with a five-minute instrumental movement-building tension with exotic strings and percussion before releasing into a Hebrew-language pop ballad. In another impressive instrumental climax, one percussionist delivered a speedy and intricate solo on the tabla (an In used in classical, popular and religious music in many parts of the near East).

"The [Idan Raichel Project] was created in order to celebrate the diversity of Israeli culture through music," said Nickie Brodie '09, a member of Hillel and a coordinator of the concert. "It was really important for us to . highlight Israeli culture and separate it from the image of Israel as a war-torn country.