• Music

    Various Artists – Canary Records: To What Strange Place: The Music of the Ottoman​-​American Diaspora, 1916​-​30

    Ian Nagoski’s stunningly and consistently impressive Canary Records releases a giant collection of songs from immigrants of the, by then, collapsing Ottoman Empire.  These songs span the time period between the First World War and the Great Depression, and are lovingly transferred and curated by Nagoski, whom you can hear in tracks 54, 55 and 56. Be they Christian, Muslim or Jew, the sons and daughters of the Empire brought so much incredibly good music to America’s shores.  It’s a blessing to have these works preserved.

  • Music

    Various Artists – Canary Records: Let’s Add Raki to Wine: Women in Istanbul ca. 1931​-​46

    Canary Records are the kings of shellac-era reissues, and this is one of their most fabulous.  It’s a collection of female singers who were active in Turkey’s cultural capital, and Ian Nagoski, musicologist and venerable head of the company, has made these recordings sound as clear as possible, despite being around 90 years old.  Yet another stunning peek into the past.

  • Music

    Gaye Su Akyol – Yort Savul: İSYAN MANİFESTOSU!

    Gaye Su Akyol has an EP release out, and it’s punchy.  Four powerful tracks of modern Andalou psychedelic rock and groove will be enough to whet your appetite for more. Turkey seems to really have it going on when it comes to psych music these days!  The Grey Lady (or the Old Hag, depending on what side of the political fence you sit on), known to readers as the New York Times, interviews Gaye Su, who has much to say about politics, the situation in Turkey, and awesome musicians like Barış Manço over here.