Garip

Description

Grammy-nominated Turkish psych-groove quintet Altın Gün, from Amsterdam, returns with their sixth studio album, Garip, their most ambitious release to date, and a heartfelt tribute to legendary Turkish folk bard Neşet Ertaş. Neşet Ertaş (1938-2012) was an iconic figure in Anatolian music; a singer, songwriter, and bağlama virtuoso, he successfully perpetuated the spirit of the ashik folk tradition into the modern era. The album Garip ("Strange" in English) features ten of his compositions, each reinterpreted and enriched by Altın Gün's unique perspective. An electrifying live band with an international reputation, Altın Gün pushes the boundaries of their art on Garip, blending sumptuous string arrangements, soaring saxophone lines, shimmering synth tracks, and incisive, punchy rock'n'roll energy. Since their explosive arrival on the music scene in 2018 with their debut album, On, the band has been at the forefront of the 21st-century revival of Turkish-influenced psychedelic grooves. From the outset, they offered a sound rich in wah-wah and organ, effortlessly capturing the spirit of 70s Anatolian psych-funk masters such as Bariş Manço and Erkin Koray. With the album Yol (2021), they deepened and broadened their sonic palette, incorporating synthesizers and drum machines for a more 80s-influenced dream-pop vibe. With their sixth album, Garip, they now bring this folk connection to the forefront, presenting a collection of songs originally written by Turkish folk legend Neşet Ertaş. For Erdinç Eçevit, Altın Gün's vocalist, keyboardist, and bağlama player, performing a collection of Ertaş's melodies is an opportunity to reconnect with his roots. Eçevit has fully immersed himself in Ertaş's lyrics, messages from the heart that are, he says, "stories about what he experiences. Traditional Turkish music is the blues of the Turkish people." Strings are present on several tracks, drawing influences from Egyptian popular music, Bollywood soundtracks, and Turkish arabesque. Fans of Altın Gün's previous albums will also find plenty to enjoy. The Anatolian influence is still very much present, and not just in Eçevit's poignant voice. Eçevit's precise bağlama figures permeate the album, establishing a direct link to his early influences, particularly on tracks like the ethereal "Niğde Bağlari," with its quirky folk rhythm and cavernous atmosphere evoking the Anatolian steppes stretching endlessly. "This is our most eclectic album," explains Verhulst. "There's a bit of everything. The tracks are harder to categorize. We wanted to do something different from what we had done before. Less direct, less pop, less overtly psychedelic. More introspective." Garip is the sound of a band constantly evolving. A fo