The 'Stans of Central Asia

Thought I’d take a day off from duties. Here’s a compilation of musick from the ‘stans. It starts of with the first song from Ulytau that I posted for Kazakhstan & with the exception of a song each by Davlatmand Kholov (Tajikistan) & Munadjat Yulchieva (Uzbekistan) the rest of the tunes are by artists I may have overlooked or been unable to find sufficient material to present. Caint never git enuff o’ dis stuff.

Here’s a Rough Guide compilation, an album covering the music of Central Asia as defined essentially by the 'stans of the former Soviet Union: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, & Tajikstan. The music on Rough Guide to the Music of Central Asia ranges from the classical traditions of the region, as hailing from Samarkand & Tashkent, to modern hard rock, as well as all points on the spectrum between the extremes. A number of the performers herein are fusionists or revisionists, combining traditional folk music with contemporary sounds. The album starts on such a note with a mix of classical Kazakh tunes pounded over by electric guitars. Pop singers from the last decade of cultural exchange are sprinkled throughout the album, as recorded locally or through international channels (some have some decent fame in Europe). Folk performers & classicists also get their share of playing time, with masters of the various Central Asian lutes prominent, such as Turgun Alimatov. The album carries a little of something for everyone. It may provide a good reference for current world music travelers to find something new, as well.

Various – Uzbekistan to Kazakhstan: Sounds of the Silk Road, Rough Guide, 2005.

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Tracklist –

Adai – Ulytau (Kazakhstan)

Fergana Tanovar – Turgun & Alisher Alimatov (Uzbekistan)

Adolatingman – Sevara Nazarkhan (Uzbekistan)

From the Station to the Mill – Ashkabad (Turkmenistan)

Devonah Shaw – Davlatmand Kholov (Tajikistan)

Aktamak Koktamak – Abdorahman Nurak (Kyrgyzstan)

Schoch Va Gado – Yulduz Usmanova (Uzbekistan)

Yod Kardom – Farzin (Tajikistan)

Sary-Arqa – Abdulkhamit Rayimbergenov (Kazakhstan)

Akku – Raushan Orazbaeva (Kazakhstan)

Az Ghami Tu – Nobovar & Shams Group (Tajikistan)

Jygach Ooz Komuz – Kambarkan Folk Ensemble (Kyrgyzstan)

Gongurbash Mukamy – Yagmyr Nurgeldyev (Turkmenistan)

Song of Karkara – Ayjemal Ilyasova (Terkmenistan)

Zhez-Kiik – National Ensemble of the Presidential Orchestra (Kazakhstan)

Oz’begim – Sherali Juraev (Uzbekistan)

Garduni Dugagh – Ali Babakhanov & Ensemble (Uzbekistan)

Untitled – Munadjat Yulchieva (Uzbekistan)

Bul Bul Zaman – Edil Husainov (Kazakhstan)

Enjoy & see you in India,

NØ