Romano, synthesizer wizard unveils his debut solo album, ‘Güle Güle’, for Batov Records. A cinematic journey through groove, nostalgia, and diverse cultural soundscapes, the album showcases Romano’s rich musical heritage and cutting-edge creativity, building a unique sound worldwide from influences as vast as funk, disco, reggae, to Latin America, the Balkans and particularly the Middle East.

Lior Romano grew up in a Turkish-Egyptian heritage household, surrounded by music. Turkish and Egyptian, naturally, but also Greek, and the unique fusion of Greek and Arabic sounds common to the culturally diverse neighbourhood he grew up in. At the same time he gravitated towards global legends such as Stevie Wonder, Jackie Mittoo, Omar Souleyman and Aris San, in love with sounds, increasingly the sounds of synthesizers.

Initially, Lior found joy in creating music alone, crafting his own beats, bass lines, and lead parts. However, his musical journey evolved as he began collaborating with others, discovering the magic of playing with fellow musicians. This newfound dynamic transformed his approach, leading him to work alongside a diverse range of talent. He eventually went on to tour with internationally renowned artists such as Ester Rada, and Yossi Fine (David Bowie). These experiences saw him perform at iconic venues and festivals around the globe, opening for superstars like Alicia Keys and Sting. He also recorded with likeminds, such as Sababa 5, before launching his own group, Baharat, known for their distinctive take on Middle Eastern surf music.

However the constant travelling took its toll and Lior retreated into his own world at home, full of vintage synthesizers, and slowly, with the occasional guest, built up a library of irresistible grooves, bridging all his seemingly disparate influences into a playful new world - one hard to place geographically, stylistically or even in a particular time - nostalgic yet timeless.

Romano’s upbringing in a multicultural family certainly shaped ‘Güle Güle’ into a crossroads of sound. From Turkish flatbreads to Ethiopian border rhythms, each track draws deeply from personal and global traditions. “Guzleme” layers vintage synths, disco-influenced bass lines, and Babe Ruth-meets-Morricone guitar breaks, evoking nostalgic memories of old movies and 1970s Loft-era disco parties.

Title track “Güle Güle”, Turkish for goodbye, encapsulates the album’s personal meaning for Romano as he says farewell to his previous life as a globetrotting keyboardist and welcomes his new role of a keyboard-obsessessive artist. Funky synth bass lines are layered with bubbling motifs, underpinned by rhythmic Greek-like clapping and buoyant Balkan accordion, exuding an infectious energy. “Debka Strut”, meanwhile, marries New Orleans grooves with Arabic scales. Wah wah guitars weave around Arabic flute motifs in an unlikely conversation, before crashing into a groove brimming with funk.

“Hol Kahol”, inspired by Ethiopia’s blue sands, explores complex rhythms native to the Ethiopian-Eritrean border, with Ester Rada’s influence adding depth and authenticity. “Sandman”, a collaboration with Tal Sandman of Sandman Project, herself a huge exponent of Ethio-inspired grooves, begins with a melody Romano playfully “stole” from her, resulting in an electric guitar-driven funk jam with a strong hint of Moroccan Gnawa, reflecting their deep camaraderie and shared artistic vision.

Elsewhere on the album, “Monkey” encapsulates Romano’s cheeky humor, drawing parallels between his predilection for pulling pranks and classic funk mischief. “Guzelim Benim” starts off somewhere akin to the theme from Knight Rider if it was a Turkish B-Movie, before building into a classic Middle Eastern groove machine. “Hai Hai”, a spirited reinterpretation of an Israeli Eurovision hit, featuring vocals by Rotem Bahar of the Şatellites, interweaves Hebrew, Turkish, and disco influences, revitalising the original arrangement with a vibrant, modern feel. Finally, “Aliza” closes out the record with feel-good, cinematic energy akin to the end of a beloved film.

‘Güle Güle’ was never planned as an album, but as they worked together across various projects, Batov Records’ DJ Kobayashi realised Lior was a “genius”, who had perfectly captured the Middle Eastern groove sound he was searching for across the tracks he was sharing. Having adopted a much more personal approach to creating music, Romano created a special world of sound that moves the body, warms the heart, and takes the mind on an incredible journey.