Arkaplan
21.Peron : 21.Peron (TÜ,1975-1977)*****
This is the first ever reissue of assembled recordings from this off-shoot group of the Izmir College Band -who did release a few singles recordings before-.
The Izmir College band was started in 1970 highly influenced by Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Who and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and even performed Tommy at some schoolshows back in 1972. They won the Milleyet contest in 1973 with a self written tune. After that the group members changed, (due to graduating), included a viola player and renamed their group into '21.Peron'.
Their influences expanded and included Zappa, Genesis and Gentle Giant, with still sympathy for the Anadolu rock which they continued to develop. In 1974 they did a progrock jingle for a national radio show by Ümit Tunçag who supported jazz and progressive music. By 1975 they moved to an instrumental style of music with some Yes and Genesis influences, which was respected but hard to understand for the (Turkish) public. At that time they recorded 5 tracks themselves, but it was impossible to find a label to release this. Although Erkin at that time gave examples of oriental psychedelic heavy metal, and sometimes he played very Jimmy Hendrix-like, bands with Cem Karaca had even performed symphonic rock, Büyükburç had its hard rock band, and also Selda, and Edip Akbayram performed their own heavy folkrock style. There were bands like Oksijen, Tehlikeli Maddle and Tank, with a hard edged inventive style. Not many of such recordings ever made it onto record. More "experimental" or progressive music from small groups outside the Altin Mikrofon contest and the Milleyet (schoolband) contest simply were not promoted. Although Turkish labels did Turkish pressings of the classic prog bands, like Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, Led Zeppelin etc. within their own ranks only short songs of the inventive folkrockcrossover (nice crossover) style of Anadolu pop were preferred and be printed, and although these artists had a remarkable (also progressive rock) creativity, only a certain degree of freedom was permitted to the known artists (Ersen, Büyükburc, Erkin Koray, Mogollar, Cem Karaca, Fikret Kizilok). In 1977 the group had the permission by label owners Attila Özdemiroglu and Sanar Yurdatapan to record in a professional studio another 6 songs. The tracks had to find a more compact form and balance for the market's rules. The tapes were used once for a TRT national broadcast airplay but then were left unused ever since. In 1978 the band made live arrangements for an additional orchestra. "Petruska" was played live in a 12 minute version (rock band with orchestra), but this full version recording was not included on this LP yet. Around the same time the German band Embryo started their first world music tour (documented for the Indian & Pakistan parts afterwards on "Embryo's Reise). In Turkey they played with 21.peron although the important part of the violin wasn't there, because Alp had to leave the band for his studies. In 1979, just as a joke, the band suggested a song for the Eurovision song festival and were accepted. Due to the oil crisis and threats by other Middle eastern countries to participate, Turkey's entry in Israel was cancelled, so the band never came to it. After this the band recorded a pop album, the only thing that was permitted then. Only recently the band reconsidered and put their old recordings together to publish the LP they once had dreamed of to release.
"Anne" has a anadolu rock flavour but also includes some psych organ, wah wah guitar and violin improvisation with a developed sound, varying from a garage psych feeling, but it is definitely symphonic in its evolution. "18400 TL." is inventive with its sound, and compromises progressive rock, and bluesrock or beat rhythms, with anadolu folk and anadolu fuzz psych ideas, also in a symphonic way. Fantastic !
"F.M.Ö" is more experimental, improvised. Progressive music to lick your fingers to. The track was meant as an imaginary mini-soundtrack. "Petruska" is based upon Stravinski's composition, in a great progressive / chamber music rock interpretation, inventively played. Stunning ! If this version of 6 minutes is already that good I wish to hear the 12 minute version with additional arrangements !! I'm sure Stravinsky would have approved this work.
Side B starts with "Cocukluk Anilarim", a more relaxed track with a banjo-like ethno-folk instrument, electric guitars, great psych organ, violin, drums. "Inilti" and "Bes" are good symphonic tracks with much more keyboard chord input, guitars, and drums, just like various West European bands from mid seventies. "Sarap Mahzeninde Gece" has a combination of driving Anadolu elements, with heavy prog rock with refined but powerful arrangements, arranged perfectly into a progressive form. "FMO II", a bit more moody, fits perfectly here with Curved Air like violin adaptation and a bit more experimenting within improvisation (with echoed and experimental sounds, guitars, violin). Last track "Arap Bebegin Dansi" (with a Debussy theme) starts a bit different, with a more fun rhythmical moog and organ (with some dance violin) combined unexpectedly with some heavy prog rock guitars. In some way it gives another aspect of the Anadolu rock scene, reminding me of Erol Büyükbürç area/story, here it still is with all its seriousness intact.
Finally a full album available that proves full right to the 70's prog Turkish scene ! I noticed lately that people so easily accept prejudged standards, confirming a superiority feeling with Anglosaxcentrism, while I sometimes hopelessly try to open up perspectives, that proves there is as much potential anywhere else. Thanks to recordings like this, I can hope such predjudged smallmindness will break the monopoly position and do justice to other scenes as well. The reality is such recordings as this hardly get a chance to be released and find their place and audience. There are only 400 LP's printed, so (for those who are more into 70's symphonic prog rock) grab your chance when you still can.
For those who prefer CD : the CD with English notes will be available soon for distribution outside Turkey.
This is a single the group had wanted to release earlier as well. "Anlatamiyorum" is an end 60's psych garage beat song, while "Köy Dügünü" is an instrumental anadolu rock track with driving bass, violin, guitars, with use of some electronic instrument.
Read the full story here.
Where are they now:
Alp Gültekin:
He is the viola player in the Ýzmir Symphony Orchestra of State.
He also works as a teacher in a private school.
Ando:
He has expertised on the internal diseases and working as a doctor in this field in Ýzmir. He also plays in a band called Smirname.
Aron Þerez:
He is an architect in Ýzmir and plays bass with Smirname from time to time.
Erden Erdem:
He is a dentist in Nazilli (a developed town close to Ýzmir) and
plays drums in the band he has formed over there.
Gökhan Akçay:
He is a surgeon and still composes music in his home in Edremit
(a nice old town in Marmara region)
Haluk Öztekin:
He is an orthopedist and still composes and plays on his own.
Seyhan Eriþ:
He is a construction engineer in Bodrum
(a very old town in southwestern Turkey, now one of the most famous holiday resorts)
A-Seviyorum-Ne Olur Üstüme Varma Anne-Yağmurlu Deniz-
Anlatamiyorum-Gecenin Bu Yaninda
B-Dans Et-Birdenbire-Keşke-Gelsene-Deli Melahat-I Love You
Grup :Maria Rita Epik,Andreas Wildermann,Erden Erdem,Gökhan Akçay,Haluk Öztekin
