I really hope you like this one. When I'm in other countries I try to pick up a few CDs at random, and this is probably one of the best; I picked it up in a Beijing superstore in 2007 when I did the tranmongolian-siberian. There were so many CDs of traditional music--I had only about half an hour for browsing. I liked this guy's face so it was fate. "Chinese Original Ecosystem Folk Song," it says on the CD cover, by the China Record Company. There's actually some extensive liner notes, and a fairly decent translation too, which is nice. But the music speaks for itself. It is ancient, rural music, performed by one of the most incredible singers I've ever heard. It is mostly composed of vocal acapella performances, a few with some flute, and a couple of orchestra tracks. In all seriousness, when I'm feeling serious existential despair, this stuff puts it all in perspective.
The ethnic minority he belongs to seems to be "Hua'er." His style thankfully survived the cultural revolution. According to the liner notes it was regarded as "Poisonous Grass," by the Cultural Revolution leaders. So this is precious stuff. It is to me.
As the professor, Wang Jie, in the liner notes states: "Let's salute to our Hua'er artist Mr. Zhu Zhonglu."
http://www.mediafire.com/?vdwja3jz3ww
If anyone is really interested, I can type up the list of track names. Well, I'll give you a taste:
Track Listing
1. Climb up the high mountain to oversee the plain (Primary Song of Herzhou)
2. Telescope hidden in the sleeve (Song of Bao' an)
3. Hot pepper and garlic with boiling oil (Tertiary Song of Herzhou)
(I'll finish the list if there is a request. And while we're on the subject of requests: SubHino: you made me a mix-CD of some rockin stuff from India. There was a vintage quasi-psychedelic tune on there I really love. Anything of that sort I would love. And to Erroneous: Renaldo and the Loaf.)
