Review of Turkish Groove Album by Putumayo Records
Turkish Groove - Album Review
Well on its way to becoming a fully fledged member of the EU this new compilation from Putumayo proves that Turkish music may well be making more of an appearance in our top 40 as well.
This collection of modern Turkish stars compiled by Putumayo head A'n'R man Jacob Edgar swells amply with the intriguing rhythms that tend to make subsequent listens to current chart hits sound increasing hollow.
As MP3 downloads are surely increasing the nation's exposure to new and diverse music so the Turkish sound is bound to grow in popularity as more people are exposed to it. This album is a great starting point to get acquainted with modern Turkish music, the albums tracks exuding an air of accomplished sophistication and satisfyingly high standards of quality.
The album contains tracks by 2003 Eurovision song contest winner (Turkey's first win) Sertab and Mustafa Sandal, internationally recognised musician and described in some quarters as the Turkish Justin Timberlake. Along with Tarkam these two young performers are the heartthrobs of the Turkish music industry, hugely popular at home and with Tarkam about to release an album in English, and increasingly so, on an international stage.
Turkey's strong traditional musical signature has, unlike our own domestic pop industry, managed to carry itself into the modern age. This lends a power to these tracks that raises them well above the moniker of pop records and adds a gravitas hard to find in any more western popular genre.
The hypnotic percussion of the Turkish tradition drives these modern hits and is for me their greatest appeal. Having recently fallen under the spell of Erkin Koray, 70's Turkish progressive rock guitarist (and all round psychedelic master), entirely because of the powerful musical signature of Turkish traditional composition displayed in his music, this album had an instant attraction.
The album is a great shop window for what is bound to be an increasingly noticeable Turkish scene and would be a good first foray in to the world of Turkish music.
Tareck Ghoneim
