There’s a moment, just a few seconds into Eyal Erlich’s Sentimental Magic Cape – Live, when you realise you’re not listening to a studio track stripped down for the sake of it — you’re hearing a song returned to its natural habitat. Recorded at Tel Aviv’s beloved Levontin venue, this live version captures Erlich in his purest form: weathered, warm, a little bruised, and absolutely unafraid to show it. Where many artists treat “live sessions” as tidy, candle-lit performances designed for playlists, Erlich leans in the opposite direction. His recording feels unvarnished, humming with room noise, breath, and the kind of emotional immediacy you get only when there’s no safety net. It’s the sort of performance that pulls you in by the collar rather than inviting you politely.
“Sentimental Magic Cape” itself is a beautifully odd creature — whimsical on the surface, introspective at its core. Part punk-tinged rock, part melodic confession, the song balances sharp wit with a gentle sense of self-examination. There’s humour in the writing, but it’s the sort that arrives after you’ve lived through the thing and only then found the courage to laugh about it. Imagine Elvis Costello wandering into a Clash rehearsal with a notebook full of poems — you’re somewhere in that territory. Erlich’s voice is the anchor throughout. It carries that rare quality he’s becoming known for: mature without being jaded, soulful without the theatrics, resonant in the way only lived experience can be. He sings like someone who has loved deeply, lost heavily, and still believes there’s something worth salvaging.
What makes this live rendition particularly striking is how closely it aligns with his artistic identity. Erlich has long stood apart from the conveyor belt of trend-chasing indie — he’s a throwback in the best way, channelling the storytelling depth of 70s rock while grounding everything in the honesty of modern singer-songwriters. His music speaks to the heart’s darker corners, but never without a glimmer of hope. That tension — heartbreak and resilience — is where he thrives. Across Israel, his live performances have built a reputation for being quietly devastating. Listeners often describe feeling “stopped cold” by the emotional gravity he creates onstage. Even in crowded rooms, he manages to make every song feel personal, as though he’s performing to you and you alone. This recording from Levontin carries that same intimacy — the dim lights, the worn walls, the hush of a crowd holding its breath all seep through. With a debut album on the horizon, The Live Sessions serves as both a teaser and a statement of intent. If this track is any indication, the upcoming record won’t be chasing novelty; it will be chasing truth. And that’s something timeless
FaceBook, Spotify, Soundcloud, YouTube, Instagram