Neil Spencer 

Baifang review – Hanggai’s Mongolian folk sounds tougher third time around

An awesome example of "duelling throat singers" is one of the highlights in this set of Mongolian folk, writes Neil Spencer
  
  


In the way of successful festival acts, the Mongolian "Chinagrass" band have toughened up their sound for this third album, with the title track arriving in a blaze of folk-rock fiddle and Hershut Hero – a similarly thunderous gallop across the plains – featuring an awesome example of "duelling throat singers". Yet the troupe remain as adept with the winding melodies of folk songs such as Miss Daughter (Missing You, My Daughter) and Qinghai Lullaby, etched with flute, lute and even accordion. A clumsy reggae piece and a somewhat sprawling 78 minutes don't detract from the album's mix of power and poignancy; these horsemen are contenders.

 

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