Rough Guide

Central Asia has a mystical almost magical quality that immediately fires the imagination. On hearing first track ‘Adai' my curiosity is immediately raised as rock guitar and drums, I'd normally associate with Van Halen, ride over the ethnic beats. The Uzbekistani Sevara Nazarkhan's contemporary version of the traditional ‘Adolatingman' evokes more presupposed emotions and serves to transport me to a land where the air hangs heavy with sweet smelling fragrances and scents. The CD lurches back and forth offering both contemporary and traditional pieces of music making for a slightly turbulent journey but mostly of a high quality. This unfortunately cannot be said for Raushan Orazbeava's offering from Kazakhstan. Played on a kobyz (a two-stringed fiddle carved out of a single piece of wood) it is said to open a doorway to the spirit world. Ali G's classic Borat seems to have had a hand in ‘Akku', which is the sound I'd imagine a cat would make when being castrated. The comedy theme continues as DJ Shaitan (devil) gets to work. A frenetic pronunciation of the name gives us a better insight into this farcical pop piece. Things go from bad to worse as we are entertained by the Kambarkan Folk Ensamble playing a jygach (a small vibrating tongue sounded by pulling an attached chord), just imagine Rolf Harris pissed trying to knock out a tune on his didgeridoo.


In a series that has been of an exceptionally high standard this, I'm afraid to say, may be the bad apple in the cart. A real mixed bag.