Following three acclaimed albums, a string of sought-after 45s, and collaborations with vocalists including Yurika and Sophia Solompon, championed by esteemed tastemakers such as Gilles Peterson, Cerys Matthews, and Jeremy Sole, ‘Nadir’ finds Sababa 5 at their enigmatic and irresistible.

Sababa 5's latest album, ‘Nadir’, delves into a darker, more sophisticated, and cinematic fusion of psychedelic soul and Middle Eastern rock. The title, Nadir, is an astronomical term referring to the point on the celestial sphere directly beneath an observer, diametrically opposite the zenith. Metaphorically, it signifies the lowest point or a moment of adversity. This duality resonates with the band's exploration of contrasting musical themes—melding the cosmic and the terrestrial, the ethereal and the grounded.

The name encapsulates the album's essence, reflecting a journey through deep, introspective soundscapes that are both otherworldly and rooted in raw, earthly grooves.

‘Nadir’ opens with 'VU' - close to four minutes of mysterious, darkly seductive, rhythm-driven funk. Swirling guitars, an Arabesque electric organ, and raga-like drones evoke the haze of a smoky Cairo bar, while the track nods to their close musical kin, vuvuvu, whose raw, noisy, and playful energy has rubbed off on the band.

The title track itself conjures the sultry ambiance of a Mediterranean night, plunging listeners into a realm of intrigue and intensity. A brooding bassline sets a suspenseful tone before a synth-led melody, laced with Italian motifs and Middle Eastern tonalities, unfolds— recalling the cinematic flair of soundtrack legends like Piero Umiliani and Stelvio Cipriani. Subtle wah-wah guitar accents add a psychedelic touch, echoing the acid rock elements of classic Poliziotteschi scores.

However, not all tracks dwell in darkness; 'Tell' sports a brighter tone reminiscent of ‘Aspan’. Leaning into Turkish ballad territory - except with synths taking the lead part - it is both melodic and melancholic, buoyed by an irresistible groove that offers a refreshing counterpoint to the album’s shadowy moods.

A must list album for fans of The Heliocentrics, Khruangbin, The Dap Kings, and Moğollar.

Nadir stands as Sababa 5’s most compelling and listenable offering yet - a transcontinental journey where hypnotic grooves, cinematic arrangements, and evocative Middle Eastern scales create vivid imagery, compel movement, and touch the soul.

TRACK LISTING

1. VU
2. Zenith
3. Descent
4. Nadir
5. 2025
6. Tell
7. Atom
8. Ignition
9. Sab
10. Timor
11. Into Orbit

Ouzo Bazooka enchant on 'Kapaim', drawing listeners through a maze of hypnotic, head- snapping grooves, cosmic string bending, and swirling guitar explorations. As trailblazers of the new Middle Eastern psychedelia movement, the band fuse traditional folk sounds with gritty soul, funk, and rock. Their latest release is a testament to their boundary-pushing spirit, offering a soundscape that is both otherworldly and deeply rooted.

TRACK LISTING

1. Asia
2. Home
3. Kapim
4. Layla
5. Seeds
6. Sufa
7. Abbatoda
8. Maagalim
9. Soff

Lost somewhere between the mysterious alleys of 70s Istanbul and the scorching sun and crystal blue sea of Jaffa, Tel Aviv, Şatellites self-titled debut album released on Batov Records.

The Şatellites’ sound shimmers between traditional Turkish folk and instrumentation, ethereal psychedelic guitar leads and groovy dance-floor baselines. The resulting concoction of songs draws on cross continental influence yet at its core is a desire to illuminate the vivid qualities of classic Turkish music, honouring the Anatolian folk and psych artists from this golden era of music. From the funky disco beat of 'Disko Arabesque' to the celestial lead guitar in 'Yağmur Yağar Taş Üstüne', the band add fire and flair to time-honoured pieces of Turkish music giving them new meanings. Covering important tracks such as female singer Kamuran Akkor’s track 'Olurmu Dersin', and musician and guitarist Zafer Dilek’s Yekte, the album covers an array of original pieces of different musical styles and sounds, that once have and continue to flow out of Turkey. The band boasts six members; Ariel Harrosh (Bass) Lotan Yaish (Drums), Yuli Shafriri (Vocals), Tsuf Mishali (Keys and Synths), Tal Eyal (Percussion) and Itamar Kluger (Diwan saz, both electric and acoustic, electric baglama, Greek 4 double string bouzouki). They came together some years after band leader Itamar Kluger discovered the saz whilst travelling the Kaçkar mountains in Turkey’s eastern region. The saz being a long necked, plucked stringed instrument native to the rural areas of the country, which remains an integral part of Şatellites’ union, and plays predominance throughout the bands’ album and music.

In the same way the guitar was electrified in the 1930s, the electrification of the saz in the 1960s led to an explosion of rock music dredged in middle eastern influence, a musical genre fittingly called “Anatolian Rock” and based on the principles of Anglo-American and psychedelic rock music, yet incorporating the style, rhythm, and scales of traditional Anatolian folk music.

As such, throughout the creation of the album, the band conceived the idea of intertwining differing elements such as the groove of funk, the rhythm of disco, and reverb of psychedelic, with traditional middle-eastern rhythm and structure, opening up the wealth of Turkish music to the western world, so that anyone and everyone can relate to something from the album. With that said, Şatellites emphasise that their music is not fundamentally Turkish music, on the contrary, they merely try to sound as close to the genre as possible. Their sole aim is to honour this amazing culture and to present it to the world in a more accessible and attainable form.

TRACK LISTING

1. Big Baglama
2. Hudayda
3. Disko Arabesque
4. Olurmu Dersin
5. Zuhtu (Live)
6. Seni Sen Olduğun İçin Sevdim
7. Yar Oi
8. Yekte
9. Yağmur Yağar Taş Üstüne
10. Cecom

Renowned for their instrumental releases that fuse traditional and contemporary Middle Eastern music with psychedelic rock, funk, and disco, Sababa 5 have also pushed boundaries in collaborations with vocalists such as Shiran Tzfira, Yurika Hanashima, and Inbal Nur Dekel. These efforts have won them support from the likes of Gilles Peterson, Cerys Matthews, and Jeremy Sole, on BBC Radio 6 Music and KCRW. Now, the band joins forces with Sophia Solomon for their latest musical exploration.

Born in Bengaluru, South India, and trained in Hindustani classical music in Mumbai, Sophia Solomon is a versatile, multilingual singer, recording artist, and live performer, drawing inspiration from Bollywood legend Asha Bhosle. A standout moment early in her career - a global tribute to Mahatma Gandhi - ignited her passion for bridging musical traditions across cultures.

'Shehzadi' (Princess) is an Indo-disco delight. Solomon’s Hindi vocals soar effortlessly across Sababa 5’s finely balanced arrangement of hypnotic drums, pulsing electric bass, fanning electric guitar, and sparkling synths in a beguiling minor key. There’s a strong hint o 80s nostalgia with a contemporary shine, evoking a Stranger Things meets Bollywood charm.

'Ranjha' (Lover) takes on a more Middle Eastern feel, with synth notes that undulate with longing and emotion, reminiscent of traditional instruments like the saz or baglama. The upbeat groove pairs seamlessly with Solomon’s dynamic, hope-filled vocals. Well-timed pauses add dramatic flair, while Sophia’s performance allows space for an exuberant synth solo.

This exciting collaboration marks another bold turn for Sababa 5, infused with new life through Sophia Solomon’s artistry. 'Shehzadi' and 'Ranjha' represent a fruitful exchange of cross-cultural musical exploration, destined to be played on repeat far and wide.

TRACK LISTING

1. Shehzadi
2. Ranjha 

Şatellites blast back into orbit on 'Aylar' delivering a bold evolution on the psychedelic folk-meets-groove sound they established on their acclaimed debut album.

Heavily influenced by the wave of psychedelic rock fused with traditional folk music that swept across Turkey in the 60s and 70s, Şatellites’ self-titled debut album received international acclaim. The record earned support from outlets such BBC Radio 6 Music and FIP in France, and were invited to record live sets for both Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide FM, and KEXP in Seattle.

After two years of touring, this cohesive and reinvigorated lineup entered the studio with renewed purpose and closer musical bonds. 'Aylar' (Turkish for “moons” or “months”) showcases more ambitious arrangements, extended compositions, intricate harmonies, and unexpected twists, reflecting the band’s commitment to innovation and their passion for the original wave of Turkish psychedelic music.

The album opener, 'Tisladi Mehmet Emmi' serves as a gateway to their expanded sound. This reimagining of a traditional Türkülern - a Turkish folk song by the prolific saz-playing singer-poet Aşık Ali Doğan - transforms it into a modern psychedelic funk masterpiece. Kluger’s saz and Mishali’s synths intertwine seamlessly, underpinned by Ariel Harrosh’s infectious basslines and Yaish’s dramatic drumming, all culminating in Rotem’s husky, emotive vocals. Lyrically, the track narrates two elderly men lamenting the state of the world—a timeless theme.

One of the album’s standout surprises, 'Midnight Sweat' reveals a darker, sultry side of the band. Rotem delivers a steamy late-night lullaby over a slinky disco-rock groove. Developed collaboratively, the track began as a sketch by bassist Ariel Harrosh, before Itamar added a melody and Rotem crafted lyrics in Turkish. The song tells a passionate love story, punctuated with sensual imagery.

'Hot Jazz' ventures into cinematic territory, as the band flexes their jazz and funk chops. The hard-hitting groove is destined to energise breakdancers. The bağlama and flute riffs, steeped in minor scales and modal nuances, infuse the track with a distinctive Middle Eastern character.

Elsewhere,' Aylar' delivers genre-bending highlights such as 'Gizli Ajan', which opens with a percussive intro reminiscent of the Incredible Bongo Band’s 'Bongolia'. This instrumental jam has become a live favorite. 'Yok Yok' reinterprets an Erkin Koray classic with a prog-tinged punk-rock flair, transitioning through four distinct sections before concluding with a rousing 9/8 Zeybek rhythm.

The album’s most ambitious cover is their cosmic folk-funk rendition of Hakki Bullut’s ballad 'Ikmiz Bir Fideniz' is followed by the original instrumental 'Beş Kardeş' ('Five Brothers'), a smoky, 5/4-time piece led by Itamar’s reverb-drenched bağlama.

The album closes with a dynamic duo: 'Zülüf Dökülmüs Yüze' a cosmodelic disco-fuzz take on a classic Türküler by Neşet Ertaş, and 'Zülüf B (Reprised)', which deconstructs and reassembles the groove. Starting with a foreboding proto-metal pace, the track builds to a dramatic, high-tempo finale.

If Şatellites’ self-titled debut laid the blueprint for their sound , 'Aylar' marks their transformation into a fully realised musical force.With this album, Şatellites step confidently out of the shadows of their Anatolian psych heroes to craft a modern yet timeless record, expanding their influences while deepening their connection to their roots.

TRACK LISTING

1. Tisladi Mehmet Emmi
2. Gizli Ajan
3. Midnight Sweat
4. Bak Gör
5. Yok Yok
6. Hot Jazz
7. Ikmiz Bir Fideniz
8. Beş Kardeş
9. Zülüf Dökülmüs Yüze
10. Zülüf B (Reprised)

Ethio-jazz pioneer Mulatu Astatke joins the Hoodna Orchestra, Tel Aviv’s number one Afro funk collective, melding his enchanting vibraphone playing with their brass heavy force across seven original compositions that play tribute to the classic Mulatu sound while forging fresh paths. Produced by and featuring Dap-King Neal Sugarman, the results are gritty, yet majestic, soulful and uplifting.

TRACK LISTING

1. Tension
2. Major
3. Hatula
4. Yashan
5. Delilah
6. Dung Gate