DAK, Deri Alti Kanallari, dement indie from Turkey

The group's own description :

"Deri Alti Kanallari is an indie garage band from Ankara which made improvised recordings on magnetic tapes/ magnetophon/ Tonband Geræt/ reel to reel tape recorder. DAK music has two phases, the first of which starts in 1993. In this period the improvisational sessions produced a number of 'long songs' which were played and recorded at once on a mono Grundig TK 14. This period has shaped the musical style of DAK: all of the DAK songs are improvisations, but they are songs indeed, not following a path of improvisation but wandering in a narrative course. Except for two or three, all DAK songs are played and recorded in single live sessions.

Oral Kozleme: piano, Farfisa organ, Casio mini organ ***

Alper Tunga Demirel: electric and acoustic bass *

Erdal Kozleme: percussion, ney

Ceyhun Dora: guitar, vocals **

The band's second recording session starts in 1999. This time the band made recordings from September till December, and improvisational sessions in this period have produced more than a hundred songs. In these sessions the band used 3-H reel-to-reel tape records Akai 4000D stereo and Akai 202D-SS quadrophonic as mixers, and a third one as the recording tape. Until May 2000, the band re-recorded some of the songs and added lyrics (including gak git, mustraktor, midye, yagmur, muskat). Many of these songs have been used as film music in a number of short films, including the award winning "dumpiller," produced by 25+ Short Film Workshop. And many of the songs are distributed among friends mainly in cassettes or cd-roms.

The band's first and the last public performance was at 2000 Roxy Music Days, where they appeared as a finalist in the rock music competition organized by Roxy Club. Apart from this experience, the band did not seek for a producer nor preferred to perform to an audience within a defined player-audience relationship on a scene. DAK, in its own way, has wandered in the musical possibilities exploring the limits of narrative beyond improvisations.

The music produced by DAK is 'hearable' in four albums: izzi mizzi 99, zerzemel 99, dolama 99, zaala 00. Besides, many of the DAK fans have their own collection of DAK music. Now the members of the DAK are heading their different paths in their musical adventures.

* Alper Tunga Demirel is now working as a recording technician for Sezen Aksu. He has composed music for several films, including the award winning "Boats Out of Watermelon Rinds (2004)".

** Ceyhun Dora is a member of indie homeband DAK as guitar player and song writer. He produced unpublished albums with DAK (most of all improvised songs): izzi mizzi 99, zerzemel 99, dolama 99, zaala 00. Other works: Albums with Sayeste Önder: fezaa02, günesin saclari02. Solo albums: yagmur suyu 98, bu ne biçim memleket 00, ay dede 01, gelbe lieder 05. Albums are recorded in a home studio on magnetophon tapes...

*** Oral Kozleme is playing music in Ankara music scene in various other groups.

Homepage Deri Alti Kanallari & Ceyhun Dora

http://www.dakmusic.net

http://music.download.com/dak/... & http://music.download.com/ceyhundora/...

demoDAK : Zerzemel (1999)**°°

This first album sounds often like a simplified version of early New Order, with sad bass, use of its rhythms, organ and guitar, especialy on “Yesteremin”, “Neler Var” and “Yara Izleri”. This version might be more simple, but it still has the inner call of the queen heroin of sadness. There's a slight underlying danceable movement in the rhythms. On “Cek Yavaki” this touch is light and simple in its underground effect, like their own version of electrowave-pop. But we also have some Anatolian touches. “Kertikle VI” is a deliberately made experimental primitive version of Anatolian music, perhaps the most original track. “Kesik 456” does something similar, like a demented version of Anatolian music with both electric and acoustic instruments, a little bit too short for me. Last track combines this idea with the earlier described simplified New Order-like mood. Nice.

demo DAK : Izzi Mizzi (1999)**°'

This album continues the idea of creating demented Anatolian folk tunes, using traditional and electric instruments and rhythmbox. The playing is not really demented, but it is more like home unfolded fun of an outsider vision, with a child-like innocent pleasure. The simplicity is made best and more colourful and creative this way. The result is much more enjoyable in nature than for instance when compared to the Anatolian punk-like chaotic experiments by 2/5 BZ. It is more comparable to what early Zen and Baba Zula were doing, but without the seriousnessness, with more simpleness to start with, and with an attitude that better fits with Mayo Thompson and The Red Krayola. This is the album I like best.

demo DAK : Dolama (1999)**'

For this release the groups seems to have the idea to recreate the idea of jazz with everything they have in core. Definitely also these improvisations with exploring creativity were there to amuse themselves. For finding this new definition the musical qualities for this form are still in a bit of an early stage, because the group falls back more than is necessary on some repetitions. It is an attempt to create something serious but perhaps it is with the nonsensical combinations that the group showed more creative spirit. The result is again comparable to the most recent Mayo Thompson with the new Red Krayola trying something that sound like jazz..