Altın Gün “Garip” Review
Written by Beau Croxton
Altın Gün by Santa Marusic
Altın Gün’s Garip zooms in on their roots and expands their sense of atmosphere with some diverse and often brilliant arrangements.
Since their debut, Amsterdam based quintet Altın Gün has led the charge of the 21st century revival of groovy Turkish psych. This Friday, the Grammy nominated group will continue with their quest to expand the genre with the arrival of their new LP– Garip.
Altın Gün’s Garip arrives as their sixth LP after 5 fantastic records in a row, and it is also the group’s first LP after the departure of their co-lead vocalist Merve Daşdemir. It is notable that Merv brought immense cheer and a playful sense of fun to the group that will be missed by many, but ultimately, the main appeal of the group has always been their expert Anatolian roots, their sound and their razor sharp instrumental chops. After this lineup change, Altın Gün decided to zero in on their roots; their new LP Garip consists entirely of ten renditions of compositions originally written by Neşet Ertaş, who is a baglama virtuoso and a beloved Turkish icon of Anatolian music.
On Garip, Altın Gün’s core values and sound remain prominent and strong; both their passionate dedication to their sound and their sharp instrumental ambition remains at a high level. Many of Garip’s tunes are very baglama and folk-centered, but they also feature a new, luxurious depth, thanks to the addition of some lush Arabesque string arrangements provided by the Stockholm Studio Orchestra.
“Neredesin Sen” leads as one of the more propulsive and rocking cuts on the record– the baglama solo on the song is haywire and technical. It’s got some of the most catchy riffs on the LP, and the choruses beam with tension and a beautiful progression. You can almost imagine entering the futuristic desert depicted on the album cover right away, as this stunning highlight demands your immersion into the world of the record.
“Gönül Dağı” is one ofErtaş’s most prominent compositions. This track slows things down and elevates the atmosphere by introducing the strings on the album. The cinematic swells and violin plucks over this mellow, vibey cut definitely work some magic. According to the band’s frontman Erdinç Eçevit, “The song is about the pain of love, the storms of the heart and the loneliness of longing”.
“Öldürme Beni” brings the band's trademark wobbling synth sounds to the forefront, and it features an impassioned vocal performance from frontman Erdinç Eçevit. Between the outro synth jam, the fantastic baglama leads, the belting vocals and the wicked percussion– there’s a lot to love as this song unfolds.
“Benim Yarim” is an irresistible highlight that kicks off the strongest 4 track sequence on the album. This standout is an immensely funky and synthy instrumental– and this is exactly what Altın Gün specializes in. The atmospheric synths and prickly guitar lines lift the instrumental while sci fi lead synths steal the show…what a total jam.
“Suçum Nedir” serves as proof that the band is very capable of soundtracking some epic films. Baglama, strings and saxophone weave mysterious licks back and forth and paint a potent and immersive vibe. It feels like some extravagant, 70s mystery-detective theme in the best way possible— it’s a standout that's beautifully done. “Gel Yanima Gel” is instrumentally intoxicating with fretless bass, congas, bagalama and strings flirting in tandem. It's got brilliant arrangements– there is some wickedly clever call response when lead baglama soars and the string section sings right back to it.
”Zülüf Dökülmüs Yüze”is the most funky and groovy cut, and it features tight baglama arrangements doubled with some scuzzy fuzz riffs. The outro is a thrilling rock out, and this track is guaranteed to get your hips swinging. “Bir Nazar Eyledim” is another standout with atmosphere and epic synth balladry that closes the album on a beautiful note. It’s a perfect soundtrack for gazing at the stars, and in its last two minutes, it really blossoms into something truly beautiful.
Of course, Altın Gün’s last record Aşk was always going to be a very hard act to follow (I would personally rank it up there towards Gece as their second best), but for the most, part Garip is a very solid follow up effort that manages to keep up the good work in a stellar discography and provide some new, fabulous standouts.
This time around, the band focuses on an atmospheric approach more than they harness their usual high energy. There may be slightly less rock outs or obvious dance opportunities, but Garip totally substitutes those moments equally by delivering lush arrangements, ambition, pure vibes and emotive strings. Ultimately, the versatility and additional orchestral arrangements on the record are brilliant and intoxicating– it results in quite a ride. The inclusion of strings adds a tasteful cinematic drama to their sound that often feels larger than life.
Per usual, Altın Gün provides a highly enjoyable listen front to back, full of supremely sharp and expert instrumentation. With Garip, Altın Gün expands their atmosphere beautifully while proving that the heart of the band is still beating passionately — they charge forward with confidence, style, expertise, and a strong dedication to their roots.
Occult Highlights: Neredesin Sen, Zülüf Dökülmüs Yüze, Benim Yarim, Suçum Nedir, Gel Yanıma Gel, Öldürme Beni
(… but we recommend you spin the whole thing while imagining a psychedelic trek across the desert)