ZeN - Derya (1996)

ZeN to powstała pod koniec lat 80-tych turecka grupa, grająca rock psychodeliczny przepełniony rozmaitymi wpływami. Muzycy ze Stambułu mają na swoim koncie cztery bardzo ciekawie i różnorodnie brzmiące albumy. Są one oparte w głównej mierze na improwizowanym graniu, osadzonym często w krautrockowych przestrzeniach z użyciem m.in. tradycyjnych instrumentów, co w efekcie tworzy niezwykle wciągające i niepokojące klimaty muzyczne. Taka jest na przykład ich druga, bardzo dobrze przyjęta płyta ''Derya'' wydana w Stanach Zjednoczonych przy pomocy Thurstona Moore z Sonic Youth.

Murat Ertel - saz, guitar, vocals

Merih Oztaylan - vocals, sampler

Levent Akman - rhythm machines, hand cymbals, percussion

Bill Macbeath - double bass, bass guitar

Emre Onel - darbuka, sampler, percussions

Cevdet Erek - drums

A pioneering Turkish psychedelic rock/krautrock group. Founded in the late 80’s in Istanbul, Turkey by Murat Ertel and Merih Öztaylan, this Turkish improvisational psychedelic rock band issued several demo recordings and four albums. These included Derya which was released in the USA under Father Yod-Ecstatic Peace label with the support of Sonic Youth member Thurston Moore. With growing emphasis on traditional Turkish instruments in their music, the band later evolved into Baba Zula in mid-90’s.

At the second release the improvising is still very dark, but there's more added percussion, giving it an extra ritual music flair. Musically it's even more experimental. But most ideas are still vague and structures are cloudy, but they succeed to create a certain mood, very underground. One longer track, "Badi Badi" I prefer because there the improvising finally overcomes the mood of doodling and directs in its own energy. And also "Gaz" goes over the top, but in an experimental underground way. Wish all there tracks went that far. Interesting and promising. (psychevanhetfolk.homestead)

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