Barış Manço / Kurtalan Ekspres – Yeni Bir Gün (1979, LP, Turkey)

Tracklist:
A1 Sarı Çizmeli Mehmet Ağa 4:28
A2 Gesi Bağları 4:11
A3 Çoban Yıldızı 4:17
A4 Bir Selam Sana Gönül Dağlarından 4:00
A5 Ne Ola? Yar Ola 5:28
B1 Aynalı Kemer İnce Bele 3:06
B2 2024 5:05
B3 İkinci Yolculuk 3:08
B4 Ham Meyvayı Kopardılar Dalından 4:09
B5 Yeni Bir Gün Doğdu Merhaba 2:03
B6 Anlıyorsun Değil Mi 2:08
B7 Ne Köy Olur Benden Ne Kasaba 1:33
B8 Elveda Ölüm 3:03
B9 Bir Kelebeğin Yaşam Öyküsü 1:43

Musicians:

Barış Manço: Vokal

Kılıç Danışman: Akustik Piyano, Fender Rhodes Elektro Piyano, ARP Solina String Ensemble Synthesizer, Korg 700s Synthesizer, Roland SH-3A Synthesizer, Hammond Org

Ahmet Güvenç: Bas gitar

Bahadır Akkuzu: 23

Celal Güven: Vurmalı çalgılar

Caner Bora: Bateri

The late '70s found Turkey in an economic slump, and there was a huge rise in political violence. Baris, who so often put out collections of singles, rose to the occasion by spending 6 months holed up with his longtime backing band the Kurtalan Ekspres. The result was this studio album of Anatolian bummer psychedelia, often unfairly overlooked because it came out in the rather un-cosmic year of 1979, but also considered his best work by many. Yep, there are still electrified versions of Turkish folk songs, and the spaceshot ARPs and Korgs of '2023' are here too, but dont expect a happy swing around the ceiling of a planetarium. The real star of the album is the keyboard player, whose name translates to Sword Agent. 'Yeni Bir Gun' is viciously funky and brilliantly arranged, with tidbits stolen out of the latest disco hits, and lean, mean synthesizers that emerge from the beats like carbonated bubbles. Melancholy maqams & catastrophic Korgs collide when the Turkish psych master glides unflinchingly into the grim late '70s!!

Atilla Engin Group Featuring Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen & Uffe Markussen – Melo Perquana (1988, LP, Turkey/Denmark)

Tracklist:

A1 Melo Perquana  7:12

A2 What Is Truth  9:05

A3 Cumbe De Cumbe  6:01

B1 Independent Fantasy  9:37

B2 Indian Affair  5:58

B3 Arap Ati  5:29

Musicians:

Bass - Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen

Saxophone [Tenor, Soprano] - Uffe Markussen
Vocals - Ane Ramløse
Vibraphone, Timbales, Tambourine, African Cimbe [Hand Drum], Percussion, Synth, Effects - Morten Grønvad
Roland Drum Machine, Vocal, Bongoes, Timbales, Synth, Santhura of India, Kalimba, African Drum [Talking Drum], Percussion, Mouth Percussion, Effects, Producer, Cover Idea - Atilla Engin

Recorded At Karma Studios, Oct. 3, 4 & 5 + Nov. 12 1987, Denmark

Asia Minor ‎– Landscape Pictures In Rock (1979, LP, Turkey/France)

Songs

1. Preface (3:37)

2. Mahzun Gozler (5:00)

3. Mystic Dance (1:42)

4. Misfortune (3:08)

5. Landscape (2:33)

6. Visions (2:37)

7. Without Stir (1:48)

8. Hayal Dolu Gunler Icin (2:32)

9. Postface (2:02)

Musicians

Setrak Bakirel / guitars, bass

Eril Tekeli / guitars, flute

Nick Vicente / keyboards

Robert Kempler / bass

Lionel Beltrami / drums, percussion

Ensemble Oriental ‎– Orient (1983, LP, Turkey/Germany)

Tracklist:

A1 - Orient Express (3:10)

A2 - Zühtü (5:04)

A3 - Espri (5:34)

A4 - Hüdayda (5:33)

B1 - Kalbim (5:54)

B2 - Dance Of Saz (10:45)

B3 - Freundschafts-Dosluk (2:40)

Musicians:

Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Frank Schiweck
Bass – Willi Hutzler
Drums, Percussion, Metallophone – Jo Schwarz
Goblet Drum [Darbuka], Congas, Percussion – Gietin Şerçe
Lute [E-saz, Concert-saz, Piccolo-saz] – Özer Şenay
Violin [4-string, 8-string] – Ferdi Mang

Hardal ‎– Nasıl? Ne Zaman? (1980, LP, Turkey)

Turkish rock is weird. Whether it's the psychedelic wanderings of Erkin Koray or the wild-haired boogie of Bunalim, the folks in Istanbul just have their own unique approach to rockin'. Hardal, basically a footnote in Turkish rock history, have now had their debut album reissued by the indefatigable Shadoks label, and it's a worthy nugget of late-'70s prog. Had it been heard in the West at the time of its initial release in 1979, it would likely have seemed a little behind the times; there are plenty of stinging guitar leads and weird Theremin-like synths, and the rhythms are pretty pumping, but it sounds more like a product of the '60s, or early-'70s Krautrock, than the dawn of the '80s. Still, the female vocals on "Unuttum" are quite lovely, and those guitars (by Sukru Yuksel and Cahit Kukul, for those who are curious) do really tear it up. The six-minute title track (which translates to "Where From? Where To?") is a drifting, psychedelic journey with electric piano backing a raw, soulful vocal and some fuzzed-out guitar soloing, plus a long and weird synth interlude in the middle. Other tracks, like "Zor" and "Baska" offer a melodic, poppy take on boogie, with more acid-fried six-string action and oddly smooth vocals. This is decidedly not for everyone, though fans of Turkish rock will doubtless enjoy it. (search: allmusic)