Back catalogue: Psych/Garage Rock

Review: Ultra lo-fi stereo funkage from L'Eclair, the latest signage to Swiss label Rock This Town. 'Cruise Control' is a muddy and smoggy six-track instrumental disco-funk EP, with seven members laying down parts on wah-wah, space horn, and synth. It sounds as if a mega-talented disco troupe were performing in the next building, but they could only be heard through thick insulation or some kind of muffling foam. The tone is ultimately pleasing, blurry and cloudlike, as if this were disco beamed to us from heaven as opposed to the material world. The softest cuts, such as 'Safari In D', are our highlights.

Review: After setting European stages on fire with the release of their first LP in 2022, the almighty Turkish band Lalalar return with En Kotu Iyi Olur, an album that reflects their stated image: edgy, independent, political, and tremendously effective. With their roots in Anatolian poetry and culture - but focusing on a club-oriented, uncompromising rock - this is a remarkable album of previously-thought-to-be-impossible fusions, rendering Turkish music danceable and festival-ready, but also refusing to be pigeonholed in any easy manner of categoric speaking. Wild stuff.

Review: This double LP, compiles all tracks from the critically acclaimed Dost 1 & 2 and Dost 2" albums, originally released in 2021 and 2022. The band's nuanced and groovy Anatolian psych-folk sound shines through in these collections, with Yildirim's sublime vocals and baglama (Turkish lute) leading the charge. "Dost" signifies a friend, comrade, and more—a connection that infuses life with meaning. This sentiment is palpable throughout the albums, which bring together sounds, people, and emotions in a harmonious blend. With Dost 2 Derya Yildirim & Grup Simsek have expanded their songwriting horizons and honed their unique arrangements. The band's compositions, complemented by guitarist and flautist Antonin Voyant's melodic contributions, reach deep, meaningful places without veering into nostalgia. Lyrics penned by Yildirim in collaboration with Berlin-based writer Duygu Agal add further depth to the album.
Dost 1 & 2 is a vibrant, lively interpretation of connection and camaraderie, making it a pinnacle example of Anatolian psych-folk music's potential.