Fihi Ma Fihi

The brainchild of Melbourne-based musicians Murat Yucel and Alisha Brooks (of Unified Gecko and Baro Banda), Bashka's debut album features over 30 musicians in an everything-including-the-kitchen-sink approach that features masterful traditional Turkish players alongside contemporary electronics, sampling and a guesting hip-hop MC.

Deep darbuka and frame drum-driven Turkish grooves dominate here, meshed with tasteful technology. At times the outcome is reminiscent of the ancient-meets-modern stylings of fellow Anatolian trad-hybridist Mercan Dede, with Greek, Balkan and Indian influences also evident amidst the brass, strings and flourishes of bağlama and bouzouki. With consistently excellent instrumentation and vocals throughout, the album journeys from the ethereal opening ‘Optymystic’ and majestic ‘Kervan (Caravan)’, through to a jazzy ‘Hep Bes (Double Five)’ and the funky closer ‘Transparan’.

Notable multicultural contributors include Tunisian-Parisian electro-oud player Jean-Pierre Smadja (Smadj) who also mixed the album, Tartar vocalist Zulya Kamalova, kora master Jali Buba Kuyateh and MC Elf Tranzporter. Recorded in Melbourne, Istanbul, Ankara, London and Chicago, and mixed in Paris, Bashka's Fihi Ma Fihi (It Is What It Is) is a heady Aussie-Eurasian ride and a true international collaboration. Surprisingly, it just might please both Middle East traditionalists and dancefloor fans alike, and that's quite an impressive accomplishment.