8 Tracks Of: Anadolu Psych with Baba Zula

Music

Helmed by electric saz pioneer Murat Ertel, over the last 20 years Turkish outfit BaBa ZuLa have wielded their own unique sound, inspired by traditional psych folk sounds but catapulted into new realms by the band’s collective influences.

Collaborations with Can’s Jaki Leibezeit, Mad Professor and Einstürzende Neubauten’s Alexander Hacke are evidence of that. It’s an exploratory approach that’s helped the band weave disparate yet cohesive threads into their own output, from kraut, experimental and electronic to jazz, reggae and rhythm.

Their dubwise experiments, almost all in album form, have landed on the likes of Glitterbeat, Rainbow45 and regular home Doublemoon, but its in their energetic improvised live performances that these psychedelic elements really come to life.

To celebrate the release of their latest LP Hayvan Gibi, the sixth instalment in Night Dreamer’s direct-to-disc recordings, bandleader Murat selects some of his favourite Turkish psych tracks…

“When I was a small child we were buying Turkish psych songs on 45s as they were released, so I started listening long before it became hip. They were very very popular and used in many movies – those guys were really rock stars. I am very happy with the craze for this music nowadays but I can only give you a taste of the tip of the iceberg. It is huge, heavy and deep and when people outside of Turkey try to recreate it, you feel a gap, just like when you hear the Rolling Stones playing blues cover instead of the blues legend Howlin’ Wolf.”

Buy Hayvan Gibi HERE. Baba Zula are part of the Istanbul Psychedelic series at EFG London Jazz Festival on 21st November.

LISTEN

Ersen & Dadaslar - Bir Ayrilik Bir Yoksulluk Bir Olum

One of my favourite tracks! The traditional lyrics sung by Karacaoglan are about three main troubles of the world, separation, poverty and death. Fantastic band and singer, electric guitar solo by the master Fehiman Ugurdemir and eternal bass riff by arranger Taner Öngür.

Ersen & Dadaslar - Bir Ayrilik Bir Yoksulluk Bir Olum

One of my favourite tracks! The traditional lyrics sung by Karacaoglan are about three main troubles of the world, separation, poverty and death. Fantastic band and singer, electric guitar solo by the master Fehiman Ugurdemir and eternal bass riff by arranger Taner Öngür.
Esin Afsar Zühtü

Esin Afsar was a great singer and a lifelong friend of my family. She played her last concert at the first memorial performance after my uncle’s death. The song became a monster hit when it was released and sold in millions.
Derdiyoklar - Aydost

One of my all-time favourite videos of the best performance ever taken from a Turkish wedding in Germany in 1984. The duo’s theatrical playing synched with lyrics is formidable. Check out their synth solo with his nose while playing electric saz behind his back for instance.
Okay Temiz - Denizalti Rüzgarlari

Temiz might be one of the earliest musicians to do ‘world music’ as we know it now. Mostly combining jazz with Turkish music. This song features the fabulous electric saz playing of Arif Sa? and Moog synth of Atilla Özdemiro?lu. When there was a technical problem at the B&W state TV broadcast in 1970’s they usually played this song.
Grup Bunalim - Basak Saclim

I was a lucky child because we were neighbours with this band who were considered to be the first underground rock band in Turkey. Their outrageous behaviour such as playing naked alienated some fans but they did survive for a few years and a couple of 45s.
Akbaba Ikilisi - Darildim Darildim

Taken from a compilation I did with my wife Esma Ertel called ‘Elektro Saz’ from their archives of the record company Uzelli. The track is by ‘Vulture Brothers’ from Frankfurt featuring the electric saz of master Arif Sag.
Baris Manço - Dereboyu Kavaklar

Maybe the most popular Turkish psych-rock star ever. This unusual arrangement of a traditional Türkü is a staple and never forgotten in my dj sets with its soothing Wes like jazzy toned solos from electric guitar player Ohannes Kemer.
Mogollar - Iklig

Last but not the least comes a song by Mogollar the band who coined the term ‘Anatolian Rock’ and wrote the rules. Eternal bass riff again by Taner Öngür and master Cahit Berkay playing ‘Iklig’, the oldest known Turkish instrument coming from the Shamanic days of Turks in central Asia. I produced a different version of the song with them that’s coming out this November