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Nem Kaldı

07/04/2017Meet Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şİmşek AKA The New Anatolian Psych-Pop Sensation
 

Drawn in at first by the vibrant artwork, young singer and multi-instrumentalist Derya Yıldırım's voice on this Anatolian psych-pop sensation's debut EP literally struck us like a lightning bolt. Which brings us to the rest of this 'outernational' five-piece, alias Grup Şimşek (Turkish transl. 'lightning'), composed of British drummer Greta Eacott (G-Bop Orchestra / One-Take Records) as well as three quarters of the respectable Orchestre du Montplaisant (Antonin Voyant, Graham Mushnik, Andrea Piro). Recently released via Bongo Joe Records / Catapulte Records, the group's 4-track EP has spent the day on repeat in our office, blowing our minds with a cutting-edge blend of psychedelic Turkish grooves and electrifying instrumentation:

"Their debut EP kicks off with legendary Aşık Mahzuni Şerif's 'Nem Kaldı', a groovy lament with killer melodyline, where saz and synth wave through a stream of wah-wah guitar arpeggios. The Graham Mushnik-penned instrumental '3,2,2,3' is a 5/4 psychedelic mover lead by the acid sounds of the organ – a subtle tribute to the architects of Anatolian Rock, Moğollar. On side B, Derya delivers a splendid interpretation of Özdemir Erdoğan's song Gurbet. Gurbet is a Turkish word describing a particular form of homesickness: watching from afar as things turn bad in your [And finally,] 'Davet', a Grup Şimşek composition, is a dancy, Saz-lead song likely to shake many dancefloors with emotion. The lyrics are drawn from a poem by Nazım Hikmet, father of modern Turkish poetry."

Head over to the group's Bandcamp page now to stream all four tracks or hit play above to stream their lead single "Nem Kaldı", also available in video form below.

AUTHOR: Lev Nordstrom