UKNW SOUNDS : GÜLŞAH EROL (Turkey)
An enigmatic name for a strange and curious style of music. The mystery surrounds the ancient Byzantium, where Gülşah Erol emerges like a silk veil burnt by the salty air of the Bosphorus. The Turkish composer and performer, originally from Istanbul, worked as a cellist with a heap of brilliant professors in musicology before going solo. Through eight discs (mostly unknown to Europeans) she was able to stand out from the classic scene and compose her music in an experimental and extraordinary way. Today, her musicality provides us with a pure ambient of orchestral sounds, halfway between post-rock and modern classical, as does the wonderful work of composers Max Richter, Ólafur Arnalds and Dustin O’Halloran.
The titles Securities Once There Was A King and No Place Anywhere prove to be the glaring examples of her musicality. A bittersweet anxiety mixed with a soft blackness, brings out the compositions. By the end of Explosions in the Sky, the squeaking and tightness of the accompanied majestic bow friction will make your hair stand on end. This unique atmosphere is placed within the high limits of a misunderstood style of music. Call it experimental, or maybe just a sad reflection of discomfort from the bloody events in the Middle East. The videos allow us to also imagine behind the scenes. The black and white muffled sound of Once There Was A King takes us off course. Inspired by a Polish lullaby, this fantastic 5 and a half minute stop-motion reminisces the shadows of the Princes and Princesses, a French animated film directed by Michel Ocelot (see Kirikou). Obviously, the sounds of this clip have nothing to do with the childish animation effects of Ocelot.
We can hear that these pieces of music are not there to distract the minds of simple individuals. A broader reflection on the music or even today’s global situation should be considered. But which one? I can’t say, everyone is free to think. However, the melancholy enthusiasts, watch out! , That aside, open your mind and soak up the divine and unique atmosphere of Gülşah Erol, where emotion and commitment are one.
Julien Catala