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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 on Bone Union Records

today we released on Bone Union Records:

BUR 1116 – Tabiat Brothers – A Chica Cobra

As close buddies both born and raised in Izmir, Turkey and commissioned to compose numerous soundtracks for a massive radio drama project in 2007, Keskiner and Urgancıoğlu decided to take the next step to enhance and sustain their creative alliance, right after delivering the ordered bundle to test the limits of their sonic intersections.

Thus namely as Tabiat Brothers, both producers created a sonic mélange that display their warped ways of blending folk, blues, funk and tropicalia. Veterans of the Turkish indie scene are featured on various tracks namely as drummer – composer Orcun Basturk and drummer – composer Ozun Usta.

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

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news from Bone Union Records

Since our foundation in 2020, as you know we aimed, advocated and promised to present you to the most hidden gems of “Turkish blues society” and you all will remember that even than we strongly emphasized our intension to mine and “exhibit” all kinds of correlations that display “the unique marriage of grassroots heritage of Turkish blues, soul, funk and reggae scene with free impro / noise / free jazz scene”.

So from now on, we are proud to announce that our roster will be once in a while be ornamented by releasing some obscure releases that indicates the ecotones between roots music, funk and the ‘free impro’ scene of Turkey; as we salute the addition of the roster of KRONOVOX ARCHIVES (soundcloud.com/kronovoxarchives), an indie label founded in 2004 holding the magic keys to access to “never heard before” archives of the most adventurous baskets of Turkish free music scene.

Relevant to that fresh news and in line with our label’s mission, recently we are encouraging our artists to create reworks and remixes of previously released / unreleased materials that stands harmonious with our circular culture approach, which we had long ago adopted, announced and advocated.

So in brief; be ready to explore a curious sonic map that will display the wild diversity of Turkish contemporary underground scene; where musical notions of Blind Willie Johnson, Pere Ubu, Peter Tosh, Velvet Underground, The Fall or Arts Ensemble of Chicago may well indeed be blended together.

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new EP Bone Union Records

today we released

BUR 1114 – Sar Keskiner & Tayfun Bilgin – Punta Strut

An outcome of a one-shot home recording session designed by Bilgin and Keskiner (both Anglophiles with a deep respect in Mod culture); this EP truly captures the claustrophobic atmosphere of a metropolitan where nobody on the scene in Izmir, Turkey in mid-2010’s tends to give away a dime for any attempt that blends blues and roots reggae with a slight touch of Jerry Garcia (of Grateful Dead). 

Take both tracks as a sample of a wide hearted trial;  while swiftly riding away on your scooter… 

Recorded and mixed by Tayfun Bilgin (2014 / Izmir, Turkey.

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

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new single Mechanical Rooster

today we released on Bone Union Records

BUR 1113 – Mechanical Rooster – Harmonicats

As locals of Denizli, founded in 2016 by Mustafa Kaçar and Onur Çağlar in Izmir, Turkey; Mechanical Rooster is proud to present their new single after their debut album: “Episode One”. 

Supervised by Turkish blues veteran / producer Sarp Keskiner, the band suggests an innovative formula by blending urban blues with old school hip hop while preaching their idiosyncratic view on daily issues in a cut-up tradition, reminding pioneers of the Beat Generation. Keep on blowin’, bend it deep! 

The track is released digital only and available on all streaming and download platforms.

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new single Bone Union Records

today we released

BUR 1108 – The Shrimps – So Worried

Founded by Sarp Keskiner (vocal, guitar) and Bora Çeliker (vocal, guitar) in 2000, in order to present their versatile attempt to blend New Orleans grooves with 50’s and 60’s Latin American music and post-war Chicago blues; The Shrimps was one of a kind for sure in the Turkish blues community, by including the best musicians of the “cover” era. Thus, defined as a super-group by the audience as soon as it was massively promoted, the band had the ability to swiftly pitch around many genres. They were based in Ankara, which was the capital of Turkish blues scene, standing as an anti-thesis against to SRV wannabes but treating the scene with a punk-ish attitude. The band did not last after their debut performance but left this performance behind, which was recorded live in January 2000. “So Worried” is an original track suggesting us as if Wolf recorded it with Omar Khorshid in Cairo.

  • Sarp Keskiner: vocals, guitar
  • Bora Çeliker: guitar, harmonica
  • Burak Güngörmüş: bass
  • Alp Esin: bongos
  • Yusuf Tunceli: drums

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

Bone Union Records was founded as a sub label from Black and Tan Records in June 2020 together by Sarp Keskiner (TR). The label aims to document a neglected musical scene in Turkey not just by releasing archival material from mid-90’s to this date; but also keen on releasing brand new material from Turkish artists. Though the scope mainly consist rare recordings of local traditional blues, urban blues and gospel acts, the material varies wildly by inclusion of folk, funk, dub, noise and experimental releases, that goes way beyond the borders of conventional blues.

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new release Bone Union Records

today we released on Bone Union Records

BUR 1107 – Mama & Friends – Mama’s Bag

Founded by luthier – finger picking master Çağlayan Örge (banjo-guitar), Suna Suner (vocal, tambourine) and Sarp Keskiner (vocal, electric lead and slide guitar, kazoo, harmonica, tambourine, snare & a cymbal) in 1996; MAMA & FRIENDS is known as “the ever first combo in Turkey, based on pre-war blues styles, gospels and spirituals.” This album presents an unreleased bundle of materials taken from the live sessions of the trio, recorded directly to a cassette recorder by in house sound engineer Kubilay Gürol, between June and August 1997, at Eylül Müzik Kulübü.1 Gospels and spirituals performed here are also known as secondary examples, ever recorded in Turkey. Thus, enjoy this rare audio documentary; featuring covers of Robert Johnson, Jesse Fuller, Leadbelly and Bessie Smith.3 Other than displaying a naïve authenticity; “Mama’s Bag” captures a historical time frame of local blues scene in Turkey, when any event representing those styles was able to pull together hundreds of people, enjoying the diversity of the blues inventory.

Sarp Keskiner: guitar
Suna Suner: vocal
Çağlayan Örge: banjo-guitar

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

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new single on Bone Union Records

Today we released a new single on Bone Union Records.

BUR 1106 – The Underdogz – Black Eyed Dog

Founded as a local cover band by Suat Vergili and Sarp Keskiner in 2016 under the synonym “Almost Rock’n Roll”, THE UNDERDOGZ (Izmir) recorded this obscure modal nugget of Nick Drake for a compilation album, curated by In the Void collective (based in Istanbul). Enjoy a rarity from the band that had disbanded in 2018, featuring the one and only female rock drummer based in Izmir.

  • Sarp Keskiner: vocals, guitar, harmonica, ocarina, jews harp, percussion
  • Suat Vergili: guitar
  • Ufuk Sinkil: bass
  • Oyku Celik: drums, backing vocals

Arranged, mixed and produced by: Suat Vergili and Sarp Keskiner (2017 / University of 9 Eylul – Department of Musical Sciences / Izmir, Turkey)
Cover Photo: Sarp Keskiner
Graphic Design: Elfin Yuksektepe (2021 / Bandha / Izmir, Turkey)

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

Bone Union Records was founded in June 2020 by Sarp Keskiner (TR) and Jan Mittendorp (NL). The label aims to document a neglected musical scene in Turkey not just by releasing archival material from mid-90’s to this date; but also keen on releasing brand new material from Turkish artists. Though the scope mainly consist rare recordings of local traditional blues, urban blues and gospel acts, the material varies wildly by inclusion of folk, funk, dub, noise and experimental releases, that goes way beyond the borders of conventional blues. Thus, the label supports any musical efforts to improve the chances of exchange of blues and neighboring genres between Netherlands and Turkey.

Posted on

new single Bone Union Records

Today we released a new single on Bone Union Records.

BUR 1103 – Sarp Keskiner & Kemal Begtas – Nobody Has No Time (to Listen to Music Completely)

Coming from overtly eclectic backgrounds by means of musical tastes and practices, “Nobody Has No Time (to Listen to Music Completely)” is a singular collaboration effort of two veterans of Smyrnian music scene. Recorded in 2017 and only broadcasted on Vimeo briefly before, the unreleased track suggests a unique blend, based on old school Mancunian beats resembling early 90’s, with a pinch of Mediterranean salt and a spoonful of gravy. This track shall be called and treated as a strict imposer of “Izmir sound”.

Kemal Begtaş: Irish bouzouki, bass, beats
Sarp Keskiner: electric rhythm and slide guitars

Recorded, arranged, edited and mixed by Kemal Begtas (Izmir, Turkey – 2017)

The single is released digital and available on all the download and streaming platforms. Here are the links to a few popular ones:

Bone Union Records was founded in June 2020 by Sarp Keskiner (TR) and Jan Mittendorp (NL) in order to create a ground for mutual cultural exchange. The label aims to document a neglected musical scene in Turkey not just by releasing archival material from mid-90’s to this date; but also keen on releasing brand new material from Turkish artists. Though the scope mainly consist rare recordings of local traditional blues, urban blues and gospel acts, the material varies wildly by inclusion of folk, funk, dub, noise and experimental releases, that goes way beyond the borders of conventional blues. Thus, the label supports any musical efforts to improve the chances of exchange of blues and neighboring genres between Netherlands and Turkey.

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single The Old Ramblers

this week we released the first single on Bone Union Records.

BR 1101 – The Old Ramblers – Bourgeouis Blues

The single is an appetizer from the upcoming album of The Old Ramblers. The album will be titled “Find Me On The Road Somewhere” and is scheduled for release early September 2020.

Located in Izmir, Turkey; since 2016, The Old Ramblers cover pre-war rural blues classics, and post-war urban blues standarts besides gospels, spirituals, work songs, edgy ragtime and bluegrass tunes with a bravado.

The musicians are:
Sarp Keskiner: Vocal, electric guitars, bass, maracas
Orhun Keskinbıçak: Harmonica
Türker Özer: Acoustic guitar

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