Cat No HE17

· “Gereg” is the new album by the highly-respected, traditional Mongolian sextet, Egschiglen. It is their fourth CD for the German Heaven & Earth label, and sees them continue their innovative, modern reinterpretation of their musical culture, using their distinctive throat-singing and yodelling techniques.

· The ensemble features Saran Tserevsamba, dulcimer(‘yoochin’), percussion and lead female vocalist; Amra Basaandorj, lead male vocalist; Tume Migdorj & Tumru Yanlav on violins (morin khuur); Ugan Tsend-Ochir on double bass (ih khuur); and Boogi Wandansenge on percussion & female vocals.

· Their haunting music is redolent of the immense, wild, empty areas of the Mongolian ‘steppes’ - it is also influenced by ancient court music, shamanism, Buddhism and the period of alliance with Soviet Russia. Yet their culture retains a fundamental animist world view, which worships nature as magical.

· A ‘gereg’ was a rectangular silver identification tag from from the 13th century - around the time of Genghis Khan. This ‘passport of the nomads’ is for Egschiglen a musical identification of Mongolia, and their artistic & poetic passport.

· The album is in a special gatefold, digipak sleeve with a superb 32-page booklet with notes, lyrics and photos.