I didn't have much of a reference point for Anatolian rock before I encountered Altin Gün a few years back... now I'm not sure how I ever had a developed sense of music taste without it. A calmly rhythmic and serious-minded folk hybrid, it possesses a distinctly invigorating and distant allure, like the scent of perfume wafting in from an adjoining room, or the aftertaste of melted caramel trailing down the back of your tongue and throat as it mixes with your saliva. I'm glad that I'm somewhat familiar with the style now, as it enhances my appreciation of German ensemble Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek and their latest album Dost 2 all the more. Led by (you guessed it!) Derya Yildirim, they have an overall more patient and grounded approach to Anatolian retro revival, one that draws out the intimate potential of the tradition without surrendering its swaying, breezy tussle. Dost translates to English as "Friend," and it is difficult to avoid the impression that the imploring posture of the Turkish language vocal performances on "Gümüş" and "Odam Kireç Tutmuyor" aren't being sung to you directly with some personal regard. Elsewhere, tracks like "Mola" have as their focus the conversive, serpentine curvatures of Derya's composed saz playing, which works as a beautiful counterweight to the fully developed psychedelic funk of "Bal." Possibly the most evocative and intimate moments on Dost, though, are the hypnotizing cover of the poet Aşık Mahzuni Şerif's "Darıldım Darıldım," and the closer, where Derya's aunt Ayşe gives a solo performance over a studio loudspeaker, beckoning you to contemplation and communion with a higher sense of being. Where ever you are, you can always find the warmth of a friend in Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek.
