Derya Yıldırım and Grup Şimşek – Dost 2 (Bongo Joe Records/Catapulre Records, 2022)
Derya Yıldırım and Grup Şimşek’s latest musical venture, Dost 2, marks the second installment of a two-part series, following the widely acclaimed Dost 1 from 2021. In this eight-track release, the artists take us on a captivating journey through Anatolian folk music and poetry, seamlessly mixing electrifying grooves with personal narratives.
Grup Şimşek was formed in 2014. They have two albums and an EP under their creative belts. The band has garnered a formidable reputation for their fusion of Anatolian folk, 1970s Turkish rock, psychedelia, pop, and jazz. Dost 2 further solidifies their musical talent, intertwining new interpretations of Turkish classics and the band’s original compositions through inventive arrangements and spellbinding grooves.
Rooted in Anatolian tradition, Grup Şimşek draws inspiration from a vast cosmos of sounds, building on the diverse influences and backgrounds of each band member. As Derya Yıldırım articulates, “In Dost 1, we concentrated on a sound that resonates with us as a cohesive unit. Dost 2 is the continuation of this adventure, urging us to consider ourselves as individuals with distinct influences and backgrounds.”
Yıldırım’s multicultural upbringing in Hamburg, her proficiency in various instruments, and her commitment to singing exclusively in Turkish contribute to the emotional depth of the album. Graham Mushnik and Antonin Voyant, members of the London/France-based collective Catapulte Records, infuse their expertise in organ, synthesizers, clavinet, guitar, bass, and flute, adding cinematic, retro atmospheres that echo through Grup Şimşek’s compositions.
The combination of 1960s and 70s Anatolian influences with a contemporary approach to composition and rhythm is a testament to the band’s versatility. Drummer, percussionist, composer, and marimba player Greta Eacott’s background in experimental and contemporary music enriches the overall sound, contributing a unique flavor to Grup Şimşek.
Şimşek’s original compositions dominate the tracklist, with lyrics on four tracks co-written by Derya Yıldırım in collaboration with Berlin-based writer Duygu Ağal. Overall, the album delights the listener with a mix of psychedelic, trancy baglama and guitar; intertwined guitar and organ interplay and much more.
Buy Dost 2.
Author: Sonia Keller
