ELECTROFUSION
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This new podcast will be available on iTunes search in few days however you do not need to wait for that. Click on iTunes icon on the right side of my web page (bulut.mypodcast.com).Turkish music used to be easier to describe when Republic of Turkey was established in 1920s. Main types of Turkish music officially recognized by scholars were as follows:
a) Folk (aka People’s Music; based on traditional styles created by people who lived under Ottoman territories such as Greeks, Turks, Kurds, Jews, Armenians, Persians etc.)
b) Ethnic-Classical (includes Gypsy and Bellydance Music and hundreds of ancient Makams (genres).
c) Sufi Music (Religious meditation music that is very similar to Turkish Classical and medieval European music)
d) Modern/Popular music (all western inspired styles including rock and later jazz was added to this category).
Nowadays the above categories are not sufficient to describe Turkish music since modern music is a fusion of many different styles. This show takes a closer look at electronic Turkish music. Please note that this is only an introduction and it is not intended to paint a complete picture of electronic-inspired Turkish styles. I will try to cover more radical electronic styles such as techno (i.e. Deep), breakbeat music (i.e. Oojami) or dub (i.e. Baba Zula) in a different show.
1. Ab-I Beka by Mercan Dede (start @ 00:21): Doublemoon records of Istanbul recently released an album titled Doublemoon Remixed. This label focuses on ethic-electronic jazz. Mercan (aka Arkin Allan) does electronic music inspired by Islamic Mysticism (aka Sufi music and poetry). He worked with many types of musicians including Turkish hip-hop artists. He recently announced that he will be retiring from music at a young age (see BBC.CO.UK news). This particular track features Indian singer Susheela Raman. The track was remixed by Turkish dj Özgür Sakar A.K.A. Misda Oz.
2. Just Remember by Gate Eight (start @ 06:07): This one appeared on a down tempo-album called Istanbul Calling by an independent label called Elec-Trip. They recently released Istanbul Calling volume 2.
3. Music by Sertab Erener (start @ 11:28): This is Sertab’s ethnic-electronic version of Madonna hit “Music”. This song was featured in a music documentary movie titled “Crossing the Bridge” (highly recommended). Sertab is a successful pop personality who won Eurovision song contest a few years ago with her song “Everyway that I can”.
4. Buda by Sertab (start @ 16:41): A down-tempo track by Sertab. This is from her latest album. Her previous album “No Boundaries” was an all-English album.
5. Organic Beats by Harem (start @ 21:07): Harem is an oriental percussion band. They produced great house-style albums. Their main instrument is Darbuka drum (Doumbek). If you are looking for an upbeat and happy techno sound for your belly-dance classes , Harem is the band for you (look for Harem II album to get started. This particular track which features a trance pad along with an electronic base line, mixed by Murat Uncuoglu & Aytekin Kurt. Also look for Murat Uncuoglu’s podcast on the web. He plays non-ethnic house music on his podcast (at least the ones I samples were not ethnic).
6. Iki Delilik by Sezen Aksu (start @ 26:35): Sezen Aksu is Turkey’s leading singer and songwriter according to many critics. This track was remixed by Kivanch K and Cem Oyal and it appeared on Bahane Remixes album.
7. Sari Odalar by Sezen Aksu (start @ 30:48): This is a down-tempo pop song. Sezen’s music compositions are mostly based on Turkish Classical music but Arabesque elements are also strong on this particular track
8. Kirmizi Biber by Bendeniz (start @ 36:32): Bendeniz is a rising pop singer who sings catchy upbeat songs. Most Turkish pop nowadays feature electronic influence.
9. Uzak by Tarkan (starts @ 40:05): Best known Turkish pop star and songwriter in the world. He is known for great ethnic pop songs but his trance inspired tracks like this Uzak are also very unique (my wife likes trance-pop like this). He recently released an all-English album called “Come Closer”. Not bad for a first album in English.
10. Ciftetelli by Cay Taylan (start @ 45:49): This is a great electro-ambient version of the famous Chiftetelli folk tune + drum beat which Turks, Greeks and other Balkan people love to dance to. Chiftelli is a musical genre by itself.
11. Burhan Ocal and Pete Namlook (start @ 49:32): Word famous virtuosic Turkish percussionist and band leader Burhan Ocal collaborates with German electronic composer Pete Namlook on Sultan Orhan album. This album sound has a dark industrial sound. Burhan is an expert on Turkish Gypsy music and Turkish Folk. The world knows Burhan Ocal from his successful gypsy-style band called Istanbul Oriental Ensemble.
