Istikrarli hayal hakikattir

""Consistent fantasy is reality/There is death and this is a dream/Let my woes pour into yours/Hey shake it, life is rock 'n' roll." So purrs the Turkish singer Gaye Su Akyol on the title track of her latest album, her voice honeyed and weary. Nurturing rock 'n' roll fantasies in her home country is a fraught proposition; the Eurasian nation dominates headlines more for its geopolitical standing and dismal human-rights record than its rock output, which makes Su Akyol's music feel all the more vital ... Her visually arresting presence elicits comparison to Björk, and her approach lies in melding her home's musical heritage to a wide array of rock stylings ... İstikrarlı Hayal Hakikattir crackles with a live energy that stems from the 18 months of touring following its predecessor, 2016's Hologram Ĭmparatorluğu ... The opening title track begins with the kind of vintage squelching electronics that led (...) J Dilla to plunder similarly sumptuous Turkish grooves. It then bursts into a percussion-heavy stomp full of synth blasts and heavily phased guitar that serve as opulent backdrop for the singer. Her voice is a mesmerizing thing, deep and plummy enough to shake trees and stir hearts ... Su Akyol's music seems like a post-1984 coping mechanism, where only in fantasy can freedom be truly felt".

Læs anmeldelse

"Gaye Su Akyol is a compelling and distinctive young Turkish singer. For her performance at this summer's Womad festival she styled herself like a pop star - with high silver boots, shorts and cape, but then produced a bravely experimental set that fused traditional Turkish and rock influences, and included a powerful plea for press freedom ... Her second international release, Istikrarli Hayal Hakikattir (Consistent Fantasy Is Reality) provides a further reminder of her powerfully original approach. Her influences include Nirvana and Nick Cave, and with help from an impressive guitar band she has created a distinctive folk-rock style in which sturdy bass riffs and percussion underpin distinctively Turkish melodies. To this is added a dash of electronica, and local stringed instruments including the oud, bağlama and cümbüş ... It's an often pained and personal set, with only one song not written by Akyol. Hemşerim Memleket Nire (Where Are You From Mate?) was written by the late Bariş Manço, a massively popular figure in Turkey: his plea for tolerance is one of the highlights of the album. She deserves international success".

Læs anmeldelse