Wonderland Terasta

As of May 8th the new mini-album (EP) of Ilhan Erşahin’s band Wonderland can be found on all digital platforms. Actually, this is the remastered sound of a video, recorded in 2013 on a terraces in Istanbul - that is also the name of the album "Terasta" - "On the terrace” in Turkish. 

Ilhan Erşahin’s Wonderland includes him on saxophone and keys, Alp Ersönmez on the bass, Izzet Kizil on percussions, Volkan Oktem on drums, and last but not least, the clarinet virtuoso Husnu Senlendirici. 

The recording of the video is from 2013 - during that time they were preparing their second album “The Other Side” for release. Those were the days we were traveling to Istanbul once a month, sometimes even more often. That is how in February 2013 we were participants in the first two nights of live performances of the future pieces on the album. Back in those days Nublu was still in the basement of the Istanbul hotel “Gradiva”, located in the bohemian neighborhood of Karaköy. The space was the size of a bigger living room. There was a couch in front of the improvised stage - it was literally glued to the keys. That was our base during the concerts. That is how the two February evenings began, during which the musicians played their new music in a single breath, while enjoying the moment, first and foremost internally. It was a long game, with more improvisation than original notes. It was such new and different music, even compared to their debut album, not to even mention the more rock sound of “Istanbul Sessions”. 

Of course, here is where we should mention the role of Husnu Senlendirici and his clarinet. Combined with Erşahin’s saxophone the two instruments create a new and unique lyrical sound. Each meeting between the two musicians is an explosion of emotions and perfectionism, complimented by the clarinet mixing with the percussions and the bass. Years later, we talked with the musicians about those exact two nights, and they shared with us that those nights of playing music were far more exciting for them than most others. 

That is how we remember those February nights. Then, in 2014, came Wonderland’s album. We then went to it’s promotional event - this time in the cult Istanbul club “Babylon”. The record was sold at the entrance and everyone in our group left with a copy in their hand. A record, that didn’t leave our cars and stereos for a long time. 

And Wonderland kept playing. The clubs opened and closed, and they kept playing. Each time was different, but from the heart, and as if it were the last time. Once during one of their gigs at “Babylon” the power went out - but that did not stop them. In the darkness, on emergency lighting, the clarinet, saxophone, and the percussions kept playing and filling the club with sound until the electricity came back and the bass rejoined. 

We are telling these stories because we are happy about the concept of Erşahin issuing some of his old live recordings. They almost fully recreate the emotion of the live playing. So today, it is with great pleasure that we return to those years with the four songs on “On The Terrace”, including the original video. 
Wonderland’s music can be found on digital platforms.
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May 2020
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