LP / CD / DL
6 April 2018
7.5 / 10
International music adventurers release their debut
album.
There’s a lot of interest in The Turbans at the moment and
it’s easy to see why. With a seemingly
massive band combined from across Europe and the Levant they have drawn influences
from their roots in Turkey, Bulgaria, Ian, Greece, Spain, Tunisia, Morocco and
London making a very unique blend which has been termed as from ‘manywhere’.
Fronted by former Bulgarian pop-star, Miroslav Morski, the
band have a loud, live feel which makes the transition from stage to studio
(and vice versa) with seemingly great
ease. Riders, the opening track, brings
together the ethnicity from each of the bands origins but manages to intertwine
it with clever effects and superb musicianship.
It’s certainly exciting, and manic too as the Euro-gypsy feel visits
almost every conceivable angle to bring an eclectic and raucous introduction. And exhale.
With the addition of The London Bulgarian Choir, Sinko Moy
brings down the pace somewhat. There are
Middle-Eastern sounds with a more subdued feel and the choir adds an element of
drama and cinema to the proceedings. It
slowly rises to anthemic proportions and teases tingles down the spine.
Above all, it is the feeling of unity that rises above
everything – a band consciously trying to be non-political – believing in
bringing everyone together, without borders, being confident in oneself. Zawi
rips a hole in the album with a guitar solo that seems to take on a life of its
own and the sheer madness of the track is quite breath-taking.
With the album representing upbeat spirit, Samia reflects on
the joys of married life and Aman, featuring Greek and Spanish lyrics, expresses
the joys of happiness itself. At a
minute and a half, Aman feels like a jam and bridges comfortably into Chubby
which again features some wondrous musicianship via strings, pipes and multiple
voices.
Closing with the upbeat Hackney, a track that pays tribute
to the London borough where all the band members have lived at some time, it
has a slightly more domestic feel whilst still combining several feels and a humorous
lyrical take. A confident debut and more
importantly incredibly enjoyable – one suspects The Turbans will be coming to a
festival near you very soon.
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