1980’S AND 90’S CULT MUSIC GROUP MOZAİK’S NEW ALBUM IS FINALLY RELEASED BY ADA MUSIC CO.
Mozaik finally converted their four previous albums –Ölümden Önce Bir Hayat Vardır, Ardından, Çook Alametler Belirdi and Plastik Aşk— recorded and released as cassettes between 1983 and 1995, to digital medium. The albums released as a 6-CD set by Ada Music. Despite all that time since the first appearance of the albums, there is something additional in this set: Mozaik members dived into their archives of 12 years of recordings from rehearsals, home and concert recordings and came up with a selection of two more CD’s, Yayımlanmamış Besteler (Unreleased compositions) and Yayımlanmamış Yorumlar (Unreleased interpretations).
The members say that since they were too late to publish the four album collection set, they wanted to have a pleasant surprise in addition and that they hope the audience will like the new set.
Right after the coup d’etat in 1980 in Turkey, in that introverted atmosphere of oppression, Mozaik was among the music bands that were making a unique brand of protest music, which was then called ‘authentic music’. Some of the other groups were Yeni Türkü, Ezginin Günlüğü and Bulutsuzluk Özlemi. They started their musical life with their first concert in 1983 performing folk and protest songs and ballads from many different cultures around the world with their unique approach to polyphony and their vivacious vocal interpretations.
Starting from there, Mozaik produced and performed their music in a very wide range, blending classical, contemporary, rock, symphonic rock, jazz, pop jazz and their own land’s makams and rhythms. Throughout their twelve years as group, they were frequently asked if that is where their name Mozaik (mosaic) comes from. With a very strong emphasis on experimentality during their rehearsals and performances, Mozaik composed both instrumental music and songs with Turkish lyrics which is rarely found together. They also had five different composers in the group. Since 1987, they designed their performances with a unique theme for each concert and distributed program journals which would reflect that specific selections’ soul and these would become collectibles for the audience.
The albums:
Ölümden Önce Bir Hayat Vardır – There is Life Before Death (1983 recording), Ardından – In Pursuit of… (1985), Çook Alametler Belirdi – Many a Sign Appeared (1988) and Plastik Aşk – Plastic Love (1990). The group lasted till 1995, but the members continued their music careers in various ways and combinations after that. The group consisted of Ayşe Tütüncü, Bülent Somay, Mehmet Taygun, Saruhan Erim and Timuçin Gürer at the final count; throughout their 12 years, however, many musicians played with them as members and/or guests such as Serdar Ateşer, Sumru Ağıryürüyen, Mehmet Tütüncü, Ezel Akay, Levon Balıkçıoğlu, Cem Aksel and Ümit Kıvanç.
The 6 CD-Set that includes all their previous albums and unreleased pieces is named ‘Külliyat 1983-1995’ (The Archive). The album comes with a 120-page booklet that gives the history of the group, information about the period in which they were making music, and their approach and way of making music as well as photographs from the time.