Romano - Good-bye [Batov]

Format: LP in printed sleeve.
CAT: BTR119

Romano, the synth wizard, presents his debut solo album, Güle Güle, via the Batov Records label. A cinematic journey through groove, nostalgia, and diverse cultural soundscapes, the album showcases Romano's rich musical legacy and cutting-edge creativity, building a globally unique sound with influences ranging from funk, disco, and reggae, to Latin America, the Balkans, and especially the Middle East.

Lior Romano grew up in a home with Turkish-Egyptian heritage, surrounded by music. Naturally, Turkish and Egyptian music, but also Greek, and that particular fusion between Greek and Arabic so common in the multicultural neighborhood where he was raised. At the same time, he felt a strong attraction to global legends such as Stevie Wonder, Jackie Mittoo, Omar Souleyman, and Aris San, falling more and more in love with sounds, especially those of synthesizers.

Initially, Lior found pleasure in creating music alone, composing his own rhythms, basslines, and main melodies. However, his musical path evolved as he began to collaborate with others, discovering the magic of playing alongside other musicians. This new dynamic transformed his approach, leading him to work with a wide range of talents. Eventually, he toured with internationally renowned artists like Ester Rada and Yossi Fine (David Bowie). These experiences led him to play in iconic venues and festivals around the world, sharing the stage with superstars like Alicia Keys and Sting. He also recorded with kindred spirits like Sababa 5, before launching his own group, Baharat, known for their particular take on Middle Eastern surf.

However, the constant coming and going took its toll, and Lior retreated to his own world at home, full of vintage synthesizers. Gradually, and with occasional guests, he created a library of irresistible grooves, bringing together all his — seemingly disparate — influences into a playful sound universe that is difficult to place geographically, stylistically, or temporally. A nostalgic, yet timeless sound.

Romano's upbringing in a multicultural family undoubtedly shaped Güle Güle as a sonic crossroads. From Turkish flatbreads to Ethiopian border rhythms, each track draws from personal and global traditions. Guzleme intertwines vintage synthesizers, disco-flavored basslines, and guitars reminiscent of both Babe Ruth and Morricone, evoking nostalgic memories of old movies and 70s Loft-style disco parties.

The album's title track, Güle Güle — Turkish for “goodbye” — encapsulates the personal meaning of the record for Romano, marking his farewell to life as a globe-trotting keyboardist and embracing his new role as a keyboard-obsessed artist. Swinging funk basslines intertwine with bubbling motifs, rhythmic Greek-flavored claps, and vibrant Balkan accordion, generating an infectious energy. Debka Strut, meanwhile, fuses New Orleans grooves with Arabic scales. Wah-wah guitars swirl around Arabic flute motifs in an improbable dialogue that culminates in a funk-laden groove.

Hol Kahol, inspired by the blue sands of Ethiopia, explores complex rhythms typical of the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea, with Ester Rada's influence adding depth and authenticity. Sandman, a collaboration with Tal Sandman of the Sandman Project — a great exponent of Ethiopian-inspired grooves — was born from a melody that Romano, humorously, “stole” from her, resulting in an electric guitar-driven funk jam with a distinct Moroccan gnawa feel, reflecting their close complicity and shared artistic vision.

Elsewhere on the album, Monkey reflects Romano's mischievous sense of humor, drawing parallels between his penchant for jokes and the mischief of classic funk. Guzelim Benim begins as if it were the Knight Rider theme reinterpreted by a low-budget Turkish film, before transforming into a groove machine with a Middle Eastern essence. Hai Hai, a vibrant reinterpretation of an Israeli Eurovision hit, featuring the vocals of Rotem Bahar (from The Şatellites), intertwines Hebrew, Turkish, and disco, revitalizing the original arrangement with a modern and festive spirit. Finally, Aliza closes the album with a cinematic and cheerful energy, like the ending of a beloved film.

Güle Güle was never conceived as an album, but as they worked on different projects, DJ Kobayashi of Batov Records realized that Lior was a “genius” who had perfectly captured the Middle Eastern groove he was looking for in the tracks he shared. By taking a much more personal approach to creating music, Romano brought to life a special sound world that moves the body, warms the heart, and takes the mind on an unforgettable journey.