DOST 2

Derya Yıldırım's vocal style may not be to everyone's taste. Compared to Anatolian pop living-legend Selda Bağcan, with whom Yıldırım may be seen to aspire to, her voice rarely rises up to Selda's great soaring reverb-drenched heights. Yıldırım's articulation is mostly thin and sometimes strident with a beseeching air about it. This comes across most markedly in her first song, ‘Gümüş’ (Silver). Moreover, she has been criticised by even her staunchest supporters for being stuck in a 70s groove. This is not necessarily a bad thing, considering that the retro Anatolian-psych trend appears to still have some mileage left in it.

While these new songs do not necessarily explore new territory – still plumbing a mellifluous 70s flashback vibe, where The Doors meets Bariş Manço – there are some new creations here as well that make this album worthwhile. The best track by a longshot is ‘Bal’ (Honey), a song Yıldırım penned herself, and which has definite dance floor potential. It begins with a chiming guitar flourish, bass-laden synth groove, some spare bağlama plucking and a vocal style that is smooth, velvety and wonderfully seductive. Even an album with only one hit like this is an achievement. Personally, I will be keenly awaiting the club remix of this track.