The Wind Horse

Anda Union were Songlines ‘ favourite band at WOMAD this summer. From Hohhot, the capital of Inner Mongolia (the part of Mongolia within China), the dozen-strong group have a varied repertoire of spectacular throat singing – both the growly kind and the ethereal, shimmering variety – and instrumental playing, notably on the horse-head fiddle (morin huur), their emblematic instrument. Although the band have only recently performed in the West and this is their debut CD, Anda Union formed over a decade ago, in 2000, to unearth and promote the traditional music of Inner Mongolia. In this they are similar in style and approach to Huun Huur Tu from the Russian Republic of Tuva (bordering Outer Mongolia), although Anda Union is a much larger group, with both male and female vocalists. They are much less rocky than their Beijing-based compatriots Hanggai, but no less impressive.

The dramatic ‘Hoorai’ has a swirling torrent of overtone singing and incisive stabbing chords. ‘Boomborai’ has breathy vocals and a horse-head fiddle solo that sounds as sumptuous as a cello. The mysterious ‘Legend of the Swan Brothers’ takes throat singing to the extreme, with boings of Jew's harp and intense moadinchur (flute) playing. You can watch the show-stopping ‘Galloping Horses’ performed at WOMAD on the Songlines YouTube channel. A thrilling debut.