Bulutsuzluk Özlemi

A massive influence in Turkish rock music, Bulutsuzluk Özlemi is one of the first bands using Turkish lyrics in alternative rock. Unlike numerous bands from the '80s, Bulutsuzluk Özlemi has managed to survive, thanks to their quality musicianship, catchy choruses, and of course the lyrics dealing with social, political, and economical problems. Unlike some favorite Turkish musicians, Bulutsuzluk Özlemi chose to write about urban life problems. Daily routines, pressure to earn more and more, lack of communication, wars, atomic bombs, and prisons were all possible themes for the songs of the band.

Bulutsuzluk Özlemi was formed by mastermind vocalist/guitarist Nejat Yavasogullari and pianist Sina Kologlu in the '80s. Coskun Sirinkal (bass) and Haci Murat (drums) joined the two to record an album in 1986 under the name Nejat Yavasogullari. Mostly led by the vocals, the album was the first hint of how the style of Bulutsuzluk Özlemi was going to be. After they shortly tried "Mor" (meaning "purple"), the name of the album Bulutsuzluk Özlemi (meaning loosely "Longing for a Cloudless Sky") became the name of the band itself. A short while later Akin Eldes joined the band to become the long-time guitarist.

As all the lead members of the band were occupied with different jobs (Yavasogullari works as an architect, Kologlu as a reporter, and Eldes as a tourist guide), so it took four years to come up with a new album. However it was well worth the wait. 1990's Uctu Uctu was a true masterpiece. With the hits "Tepedeki Cimenlik," "Beynim Zonkluyor," "Acil Demokrasi," and all-time crowd favorite "Sozlerimi Geri Alamam," the album didn't drop its grasp for a single moment. Introducing the dazzling guitar work of Eldes for the first time, the album contains pop ballads and also harder rock.

With Demirhan Baylan on drums and Richard Hammer on the sax, the band recorded Gunesimden Kac two years later, in 1992. Like the first two, this third effort was written entirely by Yavasogullari. With a more bluesy approach, it secured the place of Bulutsuzluk Özlemi in Turkish rock history, although Gunesimden Kac couldn't keep the power of its predecessor.

In 1996 drummer Utku Unal joined the band. The band recorded an unplugged gig and released Turkey's first unplugged live album. As the band's music was heavily constructed on an acoustic sound, Yasamaya Mecbursun showcased the celebrated live performance of the band at its peak.

In 1998 Sunay Ozgur undertook the bass responsibility. The same year's Yol, opening with the hit rocker "Yine Dustuk Yollara," was a more guitar-oriented album with a lot more Eastern themes thrown in. As modern rock was the main trend in Turkey, and a great number of new bands were blossoming in the market, Yol had a great importance for showing that Bulutsuzluk Özlemi was still the ruler of the genre. It was also the last album guitarist Akin Eldes recorded with the band. He left to pursue a solo career in instrumental jazz albums.

After Yol, the band started to undergo a lot of lineup changes. First, bass player Oya Erkaya joined the band, later leaving her place to Burak Güven. The next guitarist after Akin Eldes was a local hero playing in local bars of Ankara, Suleyman Bagcioglu. In 2001, the less political Numara was released. As with all the other Bulutsuzluk albums, it was written by Yavasogullari. As if Yavasogullari had fallen in love, the album mostly dealt with love-oriented problems as well as the categorization of society and loneliness. The straightforward "Ask Cok Para Yok" was the peak point.

The band parted ways with Suleyman Bagcioglu after the album Numara, and producer/guitarist Serdar Oztop joined the band. In 2004 Bulutsuzluk Özlemi released another live album, Bulutsuzluk Senfoni, this time with a symphony orchestra. A single named Felluce/Bagdat followed in 2005 with young guitarist Deniz Demiroz. In 2007 Sunay Ozgur returned to bass and the band released the live CD/DVD set Bulutsuzluk 20 Yasinda, celebrating their 20th year in rock music. ~ Vefik Karaege, Rovi