Turkish folk and psychedelia have long been strange bedfellows, but the combination works so well that it has become emblematic of Turkish music, thanks to pioneers like Erkin Koray and contemporary bands like Altın Gün. Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek continue along this line, but also bring in the contributions and influences of their international cast of members (from Germany, France, Britain, and Italy at the time of this release), giving a new twist to the Anatolian psych sound. Derya Yıldırım’s voice is striking, soaring over snaking saz and synth lines on the title track, an adaptation of Aşık Mahzuni Şerif’s original; “Gurbet” is another adaptation, this time of an Özdemir Erdoğan track, while original composition “3223” is  an organ-led LSD trip through the wide plains and rugged peaks of Anatolia.  

– Megan Iacobini de Fazio