Amit Duvdevani is too busy to be bothered about rising hostilities in his home country. He’s also too busy to find the time to attend a synagogue for the high festival of Rosh Hashana (Jewish new year). For one half of Israel’s Infected Mushroom, Duvdev’s house of worship is the desolate open spaces filled with mushrooms and prismatic light: his prayer book, a conglomerate of keyboards, synthesizers and mixers. With a major following of disciples stretching from Tokyo to Switzerland, Cape town to Melbourne, his religion and gift to the world is mind blowing Psychodelic trance. But don’t go thinking that he’ll use it as a political tool. “We’re not really into the political side of things…. we’ve lived with this situation for so long that we’re used to it.”

In fact, Infected Mushroom are too busy planning for the future… October 17th, 2009 to be exact, when the first manned space ship to Mars will be treated to a live performance by the duo, let’s hope the E.P.A won’t ban them!

For most part of the 90s, Israel has been a breeding ground for many great acts out of the Goa Trance scene. Except, the Israelis seem to add a little something extra. Maybe it’s the biological chemicals in the tap water, or the fact that Israelis are renowned for being complete nut jobs, but Duvdev seems to think otherwise: “people don’t understand Israelis… but we’re fucking everywhere!”

Speaking from home in Tel-Aviv, Duvdev, has just awoken from a slumber, from a night of partying. We reflect on a time of innocence, when the drugs were pure and Trance was just a whisper on everyone’s lips. Coming from a punk rock background, Amit dropped acid at a party one week before he joined the army. The experience helped him see “into the music”. He found that there was “something in the music” that really affected (or should I say infected) him, and so began his torrid love affair with trance music. In unbroken English terms, Duvdev had what we call an epiphany.

Five years later, Amit left the army and travelled over to Goa in India where he got swept up in the vibe of the trance scene. In 97, Duvdev met Erez Aizen through a mutual friend, a 17 y.o, and already veteran of the music industry, having played in a local dance outfit Shidapu. Both classically trained and eager to make electronic music together, it was a match made in heaven. The rest is history.

Now 4 years and three albums later, Infected Mushroom are bringing back the madness to the very loyal psy-trance kiddies of Australia at Chevron nightclub in Melbourne and Segaworld in Sydney. Punters can expect 1 1/2 hour set (45 mins new stuff, 45 rocking classics). What should we expect? I think what Duvdev calls “friendly music” is a vicious understatement.

I say get ready for the gig of the year people. Leave your egos, purist attitudes, and mind, at the door. If you’re there for anything else, then seven is just down the road (in Melbourne, or Home in Sydney)!


Check the ITM what’s on for full details…