Siddhartha - Siddhartha (1998) {2014, Reissue}

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Siddhartha - Siddhartha (1998) {2014, Reissue}

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Turkish act Siddhartha was formed in 1993 by Özgür dEmian Kurcan (vocals, guitars), Ege Madra (guitars) and Ulas Akin (bass). For the first 5 years of their existence the band concentrated on being an active live band, with a line-up that soon included Volkan Yildrim (keyboards), Orkun Öker (keyboards) and Kaan Sezgin (drums). In 1998 they hit the studio to record an album, and together with a few songs previously recorded their debut release Siddhartha was issued by Ada Muzik the same year. Siddhartha was disbanded as an active unit in 2001, as founding member Kurcan formed the music collective Siddharthasound Corporation together with Öker instead, a working musical unit first and foremost serving as a vehicle for it's founding members various musical ventures. Turkish outfit Siddhartha explore a flowing and at times hard hitting musical landscape with similarities to bands such as Hawkwind, Pink Floyd and Eloy; and might be of interest to followers of said bands in particular and space rock fans.

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Siddhartha are a Psychedelic band from Turkey who I became acquainted with some years ago through James Unger' (loserboy) web-site. In fact if you look Siddhartha up on MySpace you'll see James' review of this album under the heading "Sounds Like". The songs were written and composed between 1993-1998. The dreamy male vocals are in English, and there is a female singer on one song as well. I think the lyrics to the first track really tells us what this band's music is all about. "Power of psychedelia lies behind it's ability to let you take a trip to your innerself, through experiencing new ways, discover hidden areas in your mind and feel the pleasure of illumination coming through music that's gently stroking your soul". The spirit of Krautrock is alive and well in this album. The music is relaxing, trippy and spacey but there are some passages where the band jams with intensity and the guitarist lights it up.

"A Trip To Innerself" opens with spoken words as spacey sounds come and go. Drums and a fuller sound come in as the guitar cries out. It becomes fuller after 4 1/2 minutes with some outstanding guitar. A spacey calm before 6 minutes. Drums return and the tempo picks up after 8 minutes and the sound builds. Here we go ! The intro to "The Explorer" sounds great with the bass and drums leading the way in a psychedelic haze. Vocals a minute in. Love the gentle guitar after 1 1/2 minutes. The guitar is ripping it up a minute later. Themes are repeated. Check out the guitar 6 minutes in ! "Desert" is a cool track with intricate acoustic guitar melodies and reserved vocals. Great sound ! "Kervin" has a good rhythm with organ. Guitar 1 1/2 minutes in trades off with the organ. The percussion is prominant 2 1/2 minutes in to the end. "Baroque" is such a beautiful track. Very intricate and melodic. It changes before 2 minutes to become heavier and darker. It gets pretty intense 3 minutes in and then returns to the original melody with a more prominant guitar line.

"Nervous Breakdown" opens with psychedelic sounds that come and go. It settles 2 minutes in with spacey winds. It kicks back in before 3 minutes with some excellent drumming. The guitar is leading the way 4 1/2 minutes in. It calms down before 6 1/2 minutes before the guitar is at it again. Nice. Intense after 8 minutes with yelling and laughing before it settles with dreamy vocals. Gorgeous section. Organ 9 1/2 minutes in and then the guitar lights it up after 10 minutes and goes on and on. So emotional ! "Beyond Destiny" has this slow swirling melody. The vocals before 1 1/2 minutes remind me of the Norwegian band THE USE OF ASHES. The guitar winds it out after 4 1/2 minutes. Piano later. Amazing track ! Great lyrics as well. "Distant Cry" is a beautiful PORCUPINE TREE-like song with reserved vocals, piano and tasteful guitar. It does get fuller. "OM" is trippy and spacey with female vocals. Piano 3 1/2 minutes. Organ before 6 minutes as the sound builds. Some male spoken words come in briefly. It stops 9 minutes in and then a hidden track appears before 12 minutes. This one has an ethnic feel to it at first then it settles. Some prominant guitar and organ late.

If I had to pick my top three they would be "Nervous Breakdown", "Distant Cry" and "A Trip To Innerself". A must for Psychedelic fans out there.

~ John Davie, Prog Archives

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Siddhartha - Siddhartha (1998) {2014, Reissue}

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Siddhartha - Siddhartha (1998) {2014, Reissue}

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Siddhartha - Siddhartha (1998) {2014, Reissue}

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