Eagle

Interpreter: Mamer
Label: Real World
Location: China

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Described as 'alt-country' by the label, who presumably know about these sorts of marketing things. Should the equally loony 'chinagrass' be more up your street, don't let me spoil it for you. Far from being the long-lost illegitimate love child of Mao Zedong and Dolly Parton, Mamer grew up in Xinjiang province in Northwest China, surrounded by Kazakh music and horses. Traditional tunes are given a plaintive and textured treatment by his (western) producers, and the result is stirring, while being devoid of whoops and hollers.

Renowned banjo-ist Bela Fleck turns up on one tune and a remix of one song is tagged onto the end of the album. It is here where we can discover what the 'chinagrass' hybrid would sound like if a programmed drum kit was used throughout. But all in all, a fine example of how all those country musicians don't look the same after all.

MG/27.06.2009