Selda: Vurulduk Ey Halkım Unutma Bizi Vinyl LP

Turkish folk music has rarely seen a figure as strong and striking as Selda Bağcan. She started out singing English, Italian and Spanish songs she picked up on the radio, but soon picked up an interest in traditional Turkish folk music. With the support of the Ankara-based music producer Erkan Özerman she released her first singles in 1971. They were reinterpretations of traditional Turkish folk songs that she carried with her strong, emotional voice. Vurulduk Ey Halkım Unutma Bizi, her sophomore release carries on where those early singles left off. It may not have the breaks heavy workouts like "Yaz Gazeteci" from her eponymous debut, but there are plenty of standout moments. There's a wealth of fuzz, psychedelic synth work and tripped out flutes throughout the album. Along with the bountiful sonic wonders is Selda herself. Aside from standing out from the rest of the traditional folk set with her voice, her lyrics could be heavily political, as well. The title track is full of protest lyrics, while much of her catalog is peppered with social criticism and solidarity with the poor and the working class, which made her especially popular among the left-wing activists and sympathizers during the politically polarized 1970s. She would go on to be persecuted by Turkey's military rulers following the 1980 Turkish coup d'état.

• music label: Pharaway Sounds 2013

reviewed by Señor Sueño Latino 03/2015