When the spring downpours subside, the temperatures constantly scratch the 20 °C (68 °F) mark, and the vibe calls for flip-flops, it’s high noon for Sababa 5. The quartet from Tel Aviv celebrate Arabic scales in summery grooves, brings the 70s into the present, and fuses Mediterranean psychedelic rock with funk and disco elements. The result is a laid-back sound for the hottest days of the year, when everything is set to sunshine and the sweet smell of grass wafts through the air. While the band collaborated with singer Shiran Tzfira on the artist’s 2022 debut EP, their own two albums released to date – “Sababa 5” (2022) and “Aspan” (2023) – are entirely self-penned in top creative form. This band has just as much to hide from the genre giants of Anatolian rock as it does from retro-affine muzika mizrahit or neo-psychedelic projects from Europe. Highly recommended for fans of Barış Manço, Altın Gün, and Erkin Koray.