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new single on Bone Union Records

last we week released

Having celebrated its 30th anniversary of its foundation in 2024; now this time MOE JOE, saluted and praised as “the ever first traditional electric blues band founded in Turkey” brings a raunchy approach to its interpretation to urban blues.

Recorded live in 2008; this unreleased original composition of the band stands out as a concrete example of its quest to urbanize their sound, though this recording also stands as a sample of their keen precision on conserving their trad essentials.

Released digital only and available on all download and streaming platforms.

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new single Bone Union Records

released today

Smyrnian duo made of Kemal Begtaş and Sarp Keskiner present a fierce breakbeat boogie this time where they bring an “inter-desert” approach to their sonic alliance by presenting a spiraling theme featuring razor sharp riffs spiced with a vibrant Levantine touch.

Expected as usual, cowbells are rattling and bones are shaking on Leo Malandro’s rework of the track; where he takes a sample from an obscure composition of Sarp Keskiner, which he composed for a radio drama piece in 2000 that presents vicious cries of Korhan Futaci (Istanbul) on sax.

The music is released digital and available on all the download and streaming platforms

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new release Bone Union Records

Jeff Shucard:
“In the year 2000, I arrived in Istanbul with the intention of teaching English at a language school in the Kadıköy district. I was recovering from a life threatening illness that prevented me from touring with British band leader – legendary trombonist Chris Barber. Though I had a guitar with me, I knew absolutely nothing about the Istanbul music scene and due to my health issues, I was not interested in performing at all.

Then, one day in a local music store I met a university student who played electric guitar named Berk Sirman; who befriended me and took it upon himself to book me into a few clubs. One of those clubs was called Shaft and it was there that I met Sarp Keskiner, who enthusiastically welcomed me into the vibrant blues scene in which his band Moe Joe performed.

Sarp, as I discovered, was an avid student of blues history as well as a fine musician and producer. His ideas were far reaching and yet always in the pocket of the various genres of music he performed. Perhaps he alone in Turkey knew the music of Charley Patton, John Hurt and my favorite, Blind Blake. And so it happened that due to Sarp’s generosity of spirit and interest in acoustic country blues that we began working together.

Listening now to these tracks recorded 15 years ago, I’m taken by the raw energy we collectively produced. Back then, many clubs that we performed at with a busy schedule had little in the way of sound equipment. As I clearly remember, around the mid-2000’s there were even some nights where we spent more time doing the sound check than playing. Although draining, some of the accumulated energy of the band; the primitive but vital energy of the venues suited us fine as somehow we ended up sounding like early Chess recordings at the end of the day! Thus, I often felt as though we were musical astronauts playing a style of music no one Turkey had ever heard before.

Here, Sarp continues the narrative:
“Once the Turkish core of SPL line-up was set; with the support of my never ending energy on finding a new venue to play our music and following an eclectic approach to build up circular line-ups as booking who is available to gig with the band from the local scene; Sweet Papa Lowdown succeeded

to tour in Turkey not for once but for three times as in 2000, 2004, 2006 while regularly holding gigs in the most respected clubs in Istanbul. Eylul (September) Music Club was one of the hot spots of the then lively blues scene, as all along the decade of 2000; each club in Istanbul had their own audience with specific musical tastes.”

“Going back to the subject of circular but irregular touring schedule of SPL, the band found many chances to visit cities namely as Izmir, Izmit, Adana, Mersin, Antakya, Ankara, Mugla and Antalya while the line-ups that are mostly comprised of multi-instrumentalist national blues celebrities were also and intentionally enhanced by addition of well-respected names from Canada / USA such as Doug Rhodes, Rick Van Krugel, Blaine Dunaway, Dan Smith, Dan Marcus and Kris Bowerman. Regarding a vast audio archive that feature those aforementioned names that brought their own stance of blues to the band, SPL found a chance to create a unique mélange of blues, ragtime and gospel music in a swinging period of six years while establishing a common ground that gave the opportunity of a mutual exchange between local and international blues experts.”

Thus, this audio-doc is launched as just starting point and I hope other live albums of SPL shall create a series. Looking back on it; those were good days… My respect for the music that is produced by various line-ups of the band in Istanbul continued to grow in the next decades and now, I feel grateful to have been a part of that scene. (Jeff Shucard, Figueira da Foz, Portugal, 2024)

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new EP miXendorp

today we released

More trax from miXendorp in his bluestronica series.

The new EP contains three new instrumental trax (on What ? some added vocal samples of Boo Boo Davis). This music is best described an eclectic mix of blues, other musical styles and electronic manipulation.

The EP is available on all download and streaming platforms.

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new release Bone Union Records

Today we released a new EP

Though enjoying a well-respected position in blues mythology; back porches are pack porches everywhere on earth at the end of the day, as those semi-public spaces always host the most sincere, intimate musical gatherings reflecting the essence of solidarity of local clusters whilst exposing many grass-roots hints on what was or is happening on the local scenes. Other than being assertive on the authenticity of locations in order to advocate the organic essence of the performances; “Turkish Back Porch Scene” series of Bone Union Records aim at presenting an never-unheard-before collection as featuring a modest sum of musical gatherings whilst promoting the most authentic blues performances recorded in Turkey up to this date.

Go grab a bottle of “arak” and a smoked drumstick to enjoy this grass-roots compilation. Further volumes are about to arrive.

The music is available on all download and streaming platforms.

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new EP Rivherside

today we released:

Until recently, Renaud (Villet) was absolutely not considering a return of Rivherside, a project that he left aside since 2016. And then recently, a very simple guitar riff came to him, first on acoustic guitar. He decided to record it, and put a big fuzz sound. He really enjoyed it, and he made a full track in a couple of days, adding other guitar parts, bass, keyboards and drums.

He then realized that it sounded like Rivherside, a mix of dirty roots sound and drum samples, produced entirely with a computer. He sent the song to us offering to release it as a single. We immediately accepted!

Then Renaud realist that he had to take advantage of the opportunity and his inspiration to make a few more tracks with the same vibe. So here is a new EP of 4 fairly short instrumentals, made in a hurry, which he named “Instrumental Cheap Fuzz Blues EP”.

The EP is released digital and available on all the download and streaming platforms.

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more bluestronica

Today we released a new EP

more trax from miXendorp in his bluestronica series

The new EP contains three new instrumental trax and the music is best described an eclectic mix of blues, other musical styles and electronic manipulation.

Available from today on all download and streaming platforms

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more bluestronica

today we released:

B&T 2002 – miXendorp – Bluestronica Trax 2023 Complete

2023 has been a productive year for miXendorp; he wrote and recorded a collection of new instrumental trax.

He calls them BLUESTRONICA: an eclectic mix of blues, other musical styles and electronic manipulation.

Most of the trax on this album have already been released in 2023 on a series of EP’s but there are also a few new.

You will find the new compilation on all of your favorite download and streaming services.

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new EP miXendorp

today we released on Black and Tan Records

This brandnew new EP in the BLUESTRONICA series contains three new and instrumental trax. You will find an eclectic mix of blues, other musical styles and electronic manipulation.

The new EP is released digital and is availalbe on all download and streaming platforms