Downtown Beijing might seem a strange place for a Mongolian folk revival. Yet Hanggai are at the forefront of a musical movement in China that is finding inspiration in native folk traditions, drawing on a repertoire of magical songs that have all but disappeared during China's recent turbulent past.

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It's not what you'd expect -- a group from Beijing, mostly comprised of Mongolians, playing horsehair spike fiddles and two-string lutes, with Central Asian overtone signing -- and sounding at times remarkably like the Velvet Underground. But that's exactly what this six-piece manages, thanks in part to the droning, monotone quality of many of the songs and the touches of programming and guitar from Western producers Robin Haller and Matteo Scumaci. What they bring is evident in the first few cuts...   [ read more ]

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