If you took the soaring and prog-leaning depth of Muse, the kick-arse-ery of Foo Fighters, and the anthemic and orchestral grandeur of Led Zeppelin and stuck it in a musical mixer, what would you end up with? Well, there are several different ways that the resulting sonic shake would come out, but one distinct possibility is that it would sound a lot like Change, the latest EP from Riddles in the Dark.
Riddles in the Dark is an Istanbul-based one-man-band project led by Gundogdu Akin, who is responsible for every aspect of the music, from writing to performing to mixing to producing. His timeless surroundings can’t help but seep into the music he makes; this ancient urban home is a place of chaos and beauty, a place where empires have been both born and seen their dying moments, a city rich in history, and a country that has known its fair share of political upheaval and authoritarianism. This is truly music that captures such drama and emotion.
“Liberty” speaks for anyone who has ever felt silenced or deliberately marginalized, a song that rises from a contemporary rock sound to embrace the same staccato, rock-orchestral sweeps that made “Kashmir” such a potent song, before heading into truly anthemic realms.
And like the opener, “Enemy of the State” is also about the message as much as it is the exquisite, often Radiohead-esque sonic lines, a place where hope and resilience, a sonic fist of defiance, dance across exotic and arabesque riffs. “Change” completes this sonic triptych, again serving as a reminder that the power to change the world, to remove oppressors, and to rise against corrupt politics is within us all, if we want it enough.
In a musical sense, there is much going on in the music, which is timeless. The sound of classic rock utilizes its established forms and familiar style to create music that really stands out but which is also slightly and reassuringly familiar. Lyrically, though, this is a timely message, a defiant fist in the air, a rallying point for those who wish to combat the dark and unruly powers that seem to be gathering across the world.
Power, it reminds us, is in the hands of the people; it has always been in the hands of the people. We, you and I, are the people.
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