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Reviews

Гунеш (Gunesh) — Гунеш (Gunesh)
(Psychedelic Sounds International PSI005, 1980/2018, CD)

Gunesh (Гунеш) — Вижу Землю (I See Earth)
(Soviet Grail SG009, 1984/2019, CD)

by Sean McFee, Published 2001-03-01

Гунеш (Gunesh) Cover artВижу Землю (I See Earth) Cover art

[Regarding a 1999 reissue of the two albums on the Russian Boheme label. — ed.]

This CD is actually a reissue of two of the Gunesh Ensemble’s albums from the 80s, and the only ones from that era which I am aware of, Gunesh and Looking at the Earth. This group is from Turkmenistan, and these albums were recorded in the former Soviet Union, where the band was fairly well known. They even toured many of the Communist states, as well as various countries in Southeast Asia. The ensemble plays a brand of symphonic jazz rock inflected with Eastern sensibilities. Shafi is the drummer, and possibly the top performer here, with his tasteful yet total command of the kit. Many of the songs on Gunesh, which makes up the last six out of twelve tracks, are traditional pieces of music rearranged by the band. The material on Looking at the Earth is all original, and tends to be that much stronger for it. Most of this collection is instrumental, but when present the vocals certainly do not detract, adding a unique cultural flavor to the proceedings. In many ways the ensemble is similar to some of the top Spanish groups like Mezquita or Iman, in that there is a fusion bent to which is added an almost arabesque quality. I highly recommend this recording, as it is the best thing I have yet heard from the former Soviet Union.

Filed under: Reissues, Issue 21, 2018 releases, 1980 recordings, 2019 releases, 1984 recordings

Related artist(s): Gunesh (Гунеш)

 

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