Words by: Sam Walker-Smart
Formed in England in 2017 by two globetrotting souls, Kit Sebastian is the kind of band you can’t describe in a few words. They easily defy categorization, making them a genuinely refreshing listen. Merve Erdem left her native Turkey to study film in Italy a decade ago. She later wrote her thesis in St. Louis before finally settling in London. Meanwhile, K Martin has split his time between England and France since childhood. The fusion of these two creatives has resulted in a cinematic, psychedelic, and distinctly European sound— restless, seductive, and irresistibly groovy.
Recently signing to Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder label, the band just released its third album, New Internationale, the first in four years. Written across Europe, this 10-track project serves as a musical travelogue, featuring a plethora of instruments, including Turkish clarinet, santoor, oud, gangsa, zither, and harpsichord. At its core, Kit Sebastian combines influences from Anatolian rock and 60s French pop. With their third album, the duo expands their sound by incorporating horn, string, and percussion players for a fuller, more orchestral sound experience.
From the opening bass notes of “Faust,” listeners are quickly immersed in an intoxicating world filled with smokey rooms and hidden dangers. Kit Sebastian evokes the vibe of an old spy thriller, and that’s no bad thing in our book. Mystery is always thrilling. With Erdem and Martin exchanging breathy, aching vocals over stabs of tripped-out guitar and disorienting synths, you’ll find yourself craving a shaken martini. A multilingual project from the start, the album is at its most forceful during Erdem’s Turkish-language songs, particularly on “Göç / Me” (Migrate! Dont!). Here, the vocalist spits dark, surrealist lyrics like, “Loneliness-fatigue-poverty stain our passing days / A sacred lunatic asylum prayer on our lips.” Your usual fare.
Another highlight is “The Kiss,” where horns and strings enhance the track’s sultry tone of longing and lust. But it’s not all lush poetry and cinematic fun. “Bul Bul Bul” (Find Find Find) emerges as one of the duo’s most danceable tracks, featuring an ass-shaking drum beat and a walking bassline that will get your body moving whether you want to or not. The greatest achievement on New Internationale lies in its ability to create an immersive world. Regardless of tempo or language, every song feels part of a tangible atmosphere and a cohesive whole.
Always an exciting prospect, Kit Sebastian has taken their time to produce their most accomplished album yet. From day one, the duo has undoubtedly had that essential yet unquantifiable quality that every successful band needs. They exude that cool factor. By meshing together their shared and unique musical and artistic tastes from around the globe, they’ve created something both nostalgic and thrilling. While an increasing number of groups have mined the esoteric corners of record shops for psychedelic inspiration, few pull it off with such laid-back charme et grâce.