Başak Yavuz - A Little Red Bug (2016)

Based in Turkey, vocalist and composer Basak Yavuz takes you on a musical journey on this album to make you feel like you’re veering into various nooks and crannies of an Istanbul souk. She sings in English and Turkish, making the moods change from bohemian indie as on “A Little Red Bug” and “Tomorrow’s Memories” with clever moods by strings to Middle Eastern disco nights with synthetic grooves and wailing clarinets on “Oynak Dunya.” Late night café atmospheres have Yavuz with an agonizing folk guitarist on the breathy “Gidersen” and traditional sounding “Benin Misin” while a take of “Bye Bye Blackbird” is flavored up like a thick yoghurt dip. She keeps you guessing, but she makes the hanging in there worthwhile.~ By George W. Harris