Hurtling out of Istanbul’s riotous psychedelic scene come the much hyped Lalalar with a new limited edition 7″ vinyl release coming out on Swiss label Bongo Joe Records. Turkish music is sooooo good and the legacy of its golden era continues to inspire future sounds.
It’s out on December 11th and is a kaleidoscope of influences – psych-rock, electronics and funk, laced with samples from old Anatolian records. The group is made up of Ali Güçlü Şimşek, Barlas Tan Özemek and Kaan Düzarat, all well known musicians from the Istanbul scene who came together last year to form Lalalar, creating quite a buzz with a series of 7” single releases and their now notorious, wild, live shows including a performance at Le Guess Who? In Utrecht.
An urgent, hypnotic bassline drives Hiç Mutlu Olmam Daha İyi, meaning ‘I’m Better Off Not Happy’ – and like the city it was conceived in (Istanbul), it takes influences from the East and the West in equal measure. The gothic B-side Ceketini Al Yoluna Bak (‘Take Your Jacket and Go Your Way’) emerges at a slower pace but packing no less of a punch, with Turkish melodies drifting in and out of the heavily 80s influenced track.
WORLD TREASURES MUSIC 