Fretless (1993)

"Erkan Ogur's contributions gave musical substance to many commercial sessions in the thriving Turkish pop scene in the 80's, but it was up to a German radio producer, Birger Gesthuisen, to track him down and to give him the chance for a solo CD. Fretless gave a definite boost to Erkan's solo career. Until then he was held in great esteem by musicians themselves, but his name was like a trade secret. Besides some extraordinary music it contains a well-informed presentation by Gesthuisen, and the complete texts in English, something often lacking in Turkish CDs. The lovely duet with Philip Catherine on "Hey Onbesli", a Kurdish melody from Van) is still there, as the anti-war (Crimean war, that is) song played solo on fretless guitar. Hence the listener can fully appreciate the extraordinary sound of the instrument and the unique improvising style of Erkan: an excellent antidote to the long-standing postcard image of Turkish music given by hundreds of "belly-dance"." (Rootsworld).