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Liner Note Author: Angela Sawyer. Arap Saçi is a two-disc collection of singles and album material by the great Turkish guitarist and Anatolian rock pioneer Erkin Koray. Originally issued in 1976 -- two years after his groundbreaking Elektronik Türküler -- its 24 selections offer a wide-spectrum view of his expansive vision. While some cuts, such as "Yagmur," steer closer to Turkish folk, they tread near psychedelic pop; other numbers such as "Sana Birseyler Olmus" are more rock & roll rave-up, while others still, such as "Saskin" and "Eyvah," (all on disc one), stay extremely close to traditional forms with spacy modern production adding pysch textures. On disc two, the title track seamlessly weaves Middle Eastern themes into dark, swirling, acid-drenched rock. "Timbilli"'s syncopated rhythms accompany a spazzed-out guitar attack and flat-out weird production. The use of Farfisa and layered snare drums on "Neden Böyle (Ask Oyunu)" adds a progressive rock edge to the otherwise straight Turkish folk melody. The crown jewel on this set is "Züleyha," which weds freakbeat guitars and funky basslines to a dabke dance rhythm. "Hop Hop Gelsin" uses the Byrds' 12-string sound to create a modal, tranced-out rock that touches on everything from country music to Turkish traditional music to folk-rock -- and it works! One can hear the melody of the Moody Blues' "Tuesday Afternoon" at work in "Yine Yalnizm," but this one rocks harder. And though it's all but impossible to describe, Koray makes use of early Mitch Ryder, the Jimmy Page-era Yardbirds, and the latter-period Beatles in "Köprüden Geçti Gelin." Given that Arap Saçi is a compilation rather than a proper album, it doesn't have a central focus, but that doesn't mean it's a mess. Far from it. It not only provides dazzling proof of Koray's diversity as a musician, songwriter, and producer, but the music holds together on its own merits. Unlike the rather scattered Meçhul: Singles & Rarities that Sublime Frequencies issued in 2011, this comp is well worth investigating. ~ Thom Jurek
