Mercan Dede's first album, SEYAHATNAME, for Istanbul-based Doublemoon bleds the genres seamlessly from the opener, "Gülname," which brings a jazzy double bass and violin to accompany Middle Eastern singing, flute and percussion. "Semaname" leans more on the minimal side, with layered horns and drumming, while a didgeridoo creeps into the start of "Hayalname" before the track bursts into pure joy. The vocals return on "Sahname" with some breaks to ground them, while the traditional instrumentation take center stage on "Neyname." A touch of funk slinks onto the plucked strings of "Vefaname" and "Askname," with the latter taking on some acceleration halfway through. The layered vocals and percussion once again become the centerpiece of "Falname," and "Sirname" closes the album on a more ambient, drifting note, as a drone hums in the background. An intriguing listen.

Mercan Dede is a surprising young turkish producer/dj/musician who has achieved a great new form of fusion in world music. As with its concerts, the lineup on his records change a lot from one to one, mixing elements from all over eastern and western territories. The emphasis on production, superimposed textures and multiple layers of sound is especially remarkable on this record, along with superb intrumentals and fascinating rythms. To paraphrase again him with one of its favorite expressions : truly amazing!