One of the more sought-after Tibetan artists around nowadays,
Techung (aka
Tashi Dhondup Sharzur) here has a small collection from a few albums on the Kunga label. Rather than the monastic multitonals that have come to be known as Tibetan music (from the Dharmsala monks, for example) or the powerful trumpets, he primarily makes use of the damnyen, a longer fretless instrument with a sound vaguely reminiscent of the Mongolian morin khuur. Also reminiscent of Mongolian aesthetics are his vocals, which often form a straightforward drinking song (of which Tibetan music is rife), but in its extremes starts to sound like a Mongolian long song. The music is generally quite evocative of the culture, regardless of any language barriers with the listener. The playing and singing work together harmoniously, and the result is a very nice set of songs, perfect for the listener who's curious about what lies beneath the purely monastic traditions in Tibetan music. ~ Adam Greenberg