Turkey

Zafer Dilek

According to a review: “Zafer Dilek is one of the unsung heroes of Turkish music having worked as arranger, producer and guitarist for countless famous Turkish artists, usually uncredited.” Recording mainly in the mid 70’s often for film soundtracks, his work is predominantly instrumental fusing traditional Turkish folk sounds with psychedelia. Listen to his track Yekete below and the album this comes from here.

Apaşlar

From a review: “Taking their name from the 1960 Shadows hit “Apache,” Apaslar was thought to be a simple spin-off, but they proved everybody wrong with their short but impressive career. Combining the standard rock & roll forms with a beat way of thinking and Turkish folk lyrics — inspired by Turkish philosophers like Karacaoglan and Pir Sultan Abdal — as well as skilful instrument playing, Apaslar was a milestone in Turkish music history.” Their fuzzed up song Gilgamish is below, more of their work can be listened to here.

Mustafa Özkent

Described by Vinyl Factory as a ‘holy grail’ of Turkish music, Mustafa’s (playing as part of the Mustafa Özkent Orcestra) album Genclik Ile Elele (Hand In Hand With Youth) has deservedly achieved cult status amongst fans of psych/funk rarities. From a review: “Mustafa went on to invent specially treated guitars with additional frets enabling him to replicate unique notes similar to that of a saz or lute allowing the musician to emulate the sound of Western Jimi Hendrix style wah-wah and fuzz while retaining the versatility and rawness of the traditional Eastern sensibilites which ran through young Istanbul’s veins.” His track Dolana Ay Dolana below, playlist from the album this comes from here.

Beybonlar

Beybonlar got a chance to record a single when they won an amateur band contest in the late 1960’s. The oldest member was 18 years old while the youngest, drummer Sefa Ulaştır, was only 12, making them the most impressive band on this list given the quality of instrumentation. Unlike most of the other bands on here, they also make use of sampling in their work, their track Nenni below beginning with a crying baby then mimicked by the guitar. More of their work available on Youtube.

Bunalim

A mainstay of the Anatolian rock scene, from a review: “As their name suggests, Bunalim – meaning Depression – were a heavier, more underground unit than any of their contemporaries. Between 1969 and 1972 they released six singles, which offered varying strategies for colliding heavy rock and raw proto-punk with traditional Turkish sonorities. This track slams together flaming Edgar Broughton style freak blues and a gentle saz melody to thrilling effect.” Listen to their self-titled album here.

Ersen

In the course of a 40 year career, Ersen has been described as having a chameleon like image in Turkey, forever changing his musical style. Originally part of the Anatolian rock scene, his soft vocals, and thumping bass-line grooves stood him out, as did his apolitical stance within a highly political music scene. Listen to his track Gunese don Cicegim below, and further tracks from this album here.

Okay Temiz

A legendary percussionist, Okay Temiz plays experimental, “freak -out” style music, incorporating jazz, psych folk as well as Turkish, Balkan and even Brazillian Tropicalia sounds. Over the years he has been involved with all range of projects, including leading a 200 member percussion band in the early 2000’s, though with no new releases since 2002 it appears he has hung up his boots. Listen to his experimental track Dokuz Sekiz below, and the LP this comes from here.

Hülya Süer

This is cheating in a way as this is a re-work of a Hulya Süer song by a contemporary Turkish DJ, but I’ve included because it’s interesting to see how music from Turkey’s 1970’s psych scene is still influential today and it’s a good take.

Iran

Googoosh

Faegheh Atashin, most famously known as Googoosh, is a legendary Iranian-Azerbaijani artist, described as the most iconic female pop singer in the Persian speaking world. Playing in the 1970’s, her music incorporated many of the soul, sunk and psychedelic sounds that had blossomed in the 60’s, until she was banned from playing by Iranian authorities in 1979. In 2000 however she made a comeback tour, and remains active both musically and politically, speaking out against persecution of Iran’s LGTBQ community. Listen to her track I Want to Take You Higher below, and a playlist of her work here.

Hassan Shamaizadeh

A composer, producer, singer and saxophonist, recording since the early 1970’s Hassan remains active to this day. His early work had touches of Funk, Jazz, Latin, Bossa and Progressive- Psychedelic rock, and he composed songs for the likes of Googoosh and others. Listen to his track Hard Groove below, and a mix of his work here.

Mehrpouya

An incredible artist, full name Abbas Mehrpouya, best known for brining Indian raga music to Iran. A sitar player, his sound fused raga with Afro-funk, psychedelic rock and Middle Eastern ballads. His album, Soul Raga, is a masterpiece. Title track from this album below, a playlist of the album is available here.

Kouroush Yaghmaei

Legendary father of Persian psych-rock, from a Noisey review: “Ask any Iranian music fan today and they’ll know the name of Kourosh Yaghmaei. Throughout the 1970s he was one of Iran’s quintessential guitar gods—a handsome rocker who, with his long hair and handlebar moustache​, resembled a post- Sgt. Pepper’s era George Harrison, and who effortlessly mixed Ventures-style psych rock with melancholic lyrics influenced by Persian poets from the 11th century.”

Listen to his track Tavalode Yek Seda below and a playlist of his work here.



The Casualty Process

A contemporary band, describing themselves as “An Iranian electronic band. An air filled with aggressive noises, meaty bass and guitars and industrial beats with electro and rock influences.” Formed from members of a band called Casualty Process who were arrested in 2007 for playing an underground concert to 700 people, they have remain active outside Iran. Listen to their song It Takes Time below and check out their bandcamp here.

Dia Prometido

An Iranian psalter player collaborating with a Chilean guitarist, together with a Spanish rhythm section, Dia Prometido recorded an album of funked-up psychedelic takes on western tunes, as well as some of their own originals. Their covers (of which Sound of Silence is below) work because they bring a new take to these songs rather than just reproducing the same sound. A playlist of their work is available here.



Mohammad Nouri

Nouri had a rare career path in Iran, remaining prominent in Iran both prior to and after the 1979 revolution, gaining popularity amongst the post ’79 youth as he remained in the country. Playing a mixture of psych funk, pop and some folk, he remained active in Iran into the 21st Century. Listen to this track Bia Bare Safar Bandim below, more of his work is available on Youtube.