Belgian psychedelic jazz collective Compro Oro release new album Simurg today – the result of a collaboration with Murat Ertel, co-founder and frontman of Istanbul’s cult psychedelic folk band BaBa ZuLa and his singer partner Esma Ertel (we’re BIG fans of Murat, Esma, Baba ZuLa and co. having previously covered their work curating their recent compilation of Turkish saz from the Uzelli label and previous releases with the mighty Glitterbeat label – Ed.).
This new collaborative album is released via Sdban Ultra and follows Compro Oro’s critically acclaimed sophomore album Suburban Exotica, released last year.
Compro Oro’s introduction to Turkish psychedelics came off the back of a live performance between guitarist Bart Vervaeck and Murat Ertel at Istanbul Express in 2016. Connecting both musically and spiritually, they headed into the studio and under the watchful eye of producer and multi-instrumentalist Dijf Sanders, Compro Oro and Murat recorded several tracks during an intense recording session that would make up Simurg.
“The new music is entirely based on improvisation,” explains frontman Wim Segers.
Musician Murat Ertel is known as a leader of Turkish psychedelic music and a key figure on the alterntive scene in his hometown of Istanbul. His band BaBa Zula fuse traditional Turkish rhythms and melodies with contemporary elements and sounds drawn from dub, electronics and psychedelic rock. He re-formed his first band, Mavi Gunes 69, with his partner Esma, in 2011.
Compro Oro are: Wim Segers on vibraphone and marimba; Bart Vervaeck on guitar; Matthias Debusschere on bass; Falk Schrauwen on percussion; and Frederik Van den Berghe on drums. Special guests were Murat Ertel on electric saz; and Esma Ertel on vocals.
Sdban Records is an independent record label based in Ghent, Belgium, home to such artists as De Beren Gieren, BRZZVLL, Steiger, Black Flower, TaxiWars and STUFF.
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