MLDVA & Çınar Timur
To say we've been eagerly awaiting this release would be somewhat of an understatement. Five years after releasing their debut single "Gül Ahmet", which also featured on the strictly limited "Saz Power" compilation by Ironhand Records, Kraków-based outfit MLDVA and Turkish instrumentalist Çınar Timur unveil their debut LP on Shapes of Rhythm. Presenting their unique take on Turkish psychedelia with a definitive nod the psychedelic rock movement of the '70/'80s and a tip of the hat to like-minded contemporaries and modern-day advocates of the genre, MLDVA & Çınar Timur are back with a vengeance, proving beyond doubt that they are more than just another one-hit wonder. That being said, the wait is finally over.
"MLDVA & Çınar Timur" is a vicious six-track groover that covers a whole lot of Anatolian ground with cutting-edge instrumental prowess and state-of-the-art production. An ode to the vintage sounds of yesteryear from a jazzman's perspective, the group serves up an energetic selection of "expansive tracks" juxtaposing "deep grooves" and "hard-hitting breakbeats" with highly emotive arrangements, timeless melodies and a hint of nostalgia. The album opener combines a versatile take on Neşet Ertaş' "Zülüf Dökülmüş Yüze" with the Turkish traditional "Kozan Dağı", followed by a dreamlike, Rhodes-led, new-age rendition of Barış Manço's "Sarı Çizmeli Mehmet Ağa" and the purely instrumental mellow mood of Özdemir Erdoğan's "Bir Adım Öte". On the flip side we find the funkin' chords-y crossover vibes of "Adımız Miskindir Bizim" by MFÖ's Mazhar Alanson with words by Yunus Emre, followed by the relentless drive of "Fesupanallah" – a tune popularized by Erkin Koray – and, in closing, the Barış Manço classic "Ölüm Allah‘ın Emri", this one in a live recording of the band jamming at Kraków's 2020 Jewish Culture Festival.
You can stream the full album below and also listen to a mix the band readied for Twistedsoul, featuring a selection of Turkish music that inspired their first-ever full-length.
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