Zazal

EGSCHIGLEN – Zazal

Dunya, 2002

MONGOLIA – This is fantastic!! Simply incredible vocal acrobatics and weeping strings drive these folksongs and improvisations from Mongolia. It’s the khöömii throat-singing vocals that will catch your attention: a cartoonish sort of nasal monotone growl. But these are also listenable, memorable songs of a sort we rarely hear. Highly recommended! Play it all!

RECOMMENDED TRACKS: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 13

01. 3:31 –“a calming song for yaks”: soaring vocal and monotone growl, driving strings
02. 2:57 – cautionary tale about alcohol: happy bouncy melody, three vocalists
03. 4:40 – atmospheric and tense; the khöömii vocal sounds more like a nose flute
04. 5:06 – vocals replace flute. Strangely beautiful mountain song: first slow, then exciting
05. 4:59 – Mongolian hip-hop! Seriously! Japanese melody under a funky poetry reading
06. 4:14 – contemporary music: heavy-duty drone, then a sad piece with “whistling” vocal
07. 5:23 – in the urtyn duu (“long song”) style: sad solo for a cello-like instrument; echo
08. 7:29 – freaky showcase for the throat-singer; incredible control in multiple techniques
09. 3:28 – modern, rather cinematic instrumental; picks up a western beat, très cool.
10. 11:09 – wide-ranging modern piece arranged for traditional instruments; dramatic & long
11. 2:53 – folk song: first half sounds like an American western, then nice male bonding
12. 1:43 – upbeat love song, female vocal. very pleasant.
13. 4:38 – desert caravan music: rhythmic strings; spacious (lonely) middle section

[Fo] - 7/24/02