Altin Gun: On [BONGO JOE]

Why you'll love it

This Bongo Joe pressing comes with a download code. On is the debut that put Amsterdam's Anatolian rock band on the map, leading to a deal with ATO and a Grammy nomination for its follow-up.

This edition

• Download card included

About the album

Most bands find their singer through a friend of a friend. Altın Gün bassist Jasper Verhulst put up advertisements on Facebook and around Amsterdam, looking for musicians who spoke Turkish and played Turkish instruments, after a tour stop in Istanbul left him hooked on the country's 1970s folk records. Erdinç Ecevit Yıldız and Merve Daşdemir answered, and the name means "Golden Day."

On came out on Geneva's Les Disques Bongo Joe in March 2018. The songs are Turkish folk tunes passed down through generations, played the way the Anatolian rock bands of the 70s did it, with bağlama and keys over a dirty, funky rhythm section. "Goca Dünya" and "Kırşehir'in Gülleri" shared the first single, "Tatli Dile Güler Yüze" followed, and "Halkali Şeker" and "Cemalim" keep the dance floor busy. Ecevit Yıldız and Daşdemir trade lead vocals, which gives the record its warm, call-and-response feel.

A set at King Gizzard's Gizzfest that year got them signed to ATO, and the band have toured the world since. You don't need a word of Turkish to enjoy it, though we can't promise you won't try singing along anyway.

Also at Kops: more Altın Gün on vinyl · browse World

Tracklist

Listen

On Les Disques Bongo Joe (cat# BJR025), a reissue of the 2018 album.