21. Peron - 21. Peron

From in Turkey

Anatolian / Symphonic Progressive Rock

21. Peron - 21. Peron - 1978

Tracks.

01. Anne (7.34)

02. 18400 TL (7.04)

03. F.M.O. (Film Muzigi Olabilir) (2.55)

04. Petruska (5.28)

05. Cocukluk Anilarim (4.22)

06. Inilti (2.48)

07. Bes (3.34)

08. Sarap Mahzeninde Gece (2.46)

09. F.M.O. II (Film Muzigi Olamadi) (3.26)

10. Arap Bebegin Dansi (5.07)

11. Anlatamiyorum (Bonus) (3.24)

12. Koy Dugunu (Bonus) (2.58)

Total Time.  51.26

Members.

- Alp Gultekin / Violin

- Andreas Wildermann / Keyboards

- Haluk Oztekin / Guitar

- Erden Erdem / Drums

- Aron Serez / Bass

- Gokhan Akcay / Bass

- Seyhan Eris / Guitar

- Halil Yildirim / Drums

Godspeed!

The Izmir College band was formed in 1970 highly influenced by Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Who and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and even performed Tommy at some schoolshows back in 1972. They won the Milliyet contest in 1973 with a self written tune. After that the group members changed, (due to graduating), a viola player was added and renamed their group into '21.Peron'.

Their influences expanded and included Zappa, Genesis and Gentle Giant, with still sympathy for the Anatolian rock which they continued to develop. In 1974 they did a progrock jingle for a national radio show by Umit Tuncag who supported jazz and progressive music. By 1975 they moved to an instrumental style of music with some Yes and Genesis influences, which was respected but hard to understand for the (Turkish) general public. At that time they recorded 5 tracks themselves, but it was impossible to find a label to release this. More "experimental" or progressive music from small groups outside the Altin Mikrofon contest and the Milliyet (schoolband) contest simply were not promoted.

In 1977 the group had the permission by label owners Attila Ozdemiroglu and Sanar Yurdatapan to record in a professional studio another 6 songs. The tracks had to find a more compact form and balance for the market's rules. The tapes were used once for a TRT national broadcast airplay but then were left unused ever since. In 1978 the band made live arrangements for an additional orchestra. "Petruska" was played live in a 12 minute version (rock band with orchestra), but this full version recording was not included on this album yet.

Around the same time the German band Embryo started their first world music tour (documented for the Indian & Pakistan parts afterwards on "Embryo's Reise). In Turkey they played with 21. Peron although the important part of the violin wasn't there, because Alp had to leave the band for his studies.

In 1979, just as a joke, the band suggested a song for the Eurovision song festival and won the national competition. Due to the oil crisis and threats by other Middle eastern countries, Turkey's participation in Israel was cancelled, so the band never came to it.

Only recently Arkaplan label put their old recordings together to publish the album they once had dreamed of to release.

"Anne" has a anadolu rock flavour but also includes some psych organ, wah wah guitar and violin improvisation with a developed sound, varying from a garage psych feeling, but it is definitely symphonic in its evolution. "18400 TL." is inventive with its sound, and compromises progressive rock, and bluesrock or beat rhythms, with anadolu folk and anadolu fuzz psych ideas, also in a symphonic way. Fantastic !

"F.M.O" is more experimental, improvised. Progressive music to lick your fingers to. The track was meant as an imaginary mini-soundtrack. "Petruska" is based upon Stravinski's composition, in a great progressive / chamber music rock interpretation, inventively played. Stunning ! If this version of 6 minutes is already that good I wish to hear the 12 minute version with additional arrangements !! I'm sure Stravinsky would have approved this work.

Side B starts with "Cocukluk Anilarim", a more relaxed track with a banjo-like ethno-folk instrument, electric guitars, great psych organ, violin, drums. "Inilti" and "Bes" are good symphonic tracks with much more keyboard chord input, guitars, and drums, just like various West European bands from mid seventies. "Sarap Mahzeninde Gece" has a combination of driving Anadolu elements, with heavy prog rock with refined but powerful arrangements, arranged perfectly into a progressive form. "FMO II", a bit more moody, fits perfectly here with Curved Air like violin adaptation and a bit more experimenting within improvisation (with echoed and experimental sounds, guitars, violin). Last track "Arap Bebegin Dansi" (with a Debussy theme) starts a bit different, with a more fun rhythmical moog and organ (with some dance violin) combined unexpectedly with some heavy prog rock guitars. In some way it gives another aspect of the Anadolu rock scene, reminding me of Erol Buyukburc area/story, here it still is with all its seriousness intact.