Övgön buurain süyeger – BUNDLE (Digital Download)

3 reviews for Övgön buurain süyeger – BUNDLE (Digital Download)

1. 

   Saefinn

   Rated 5 out of 5

   23rd June 2024

   Tamlaga is a strong opening to the album where you can hear the ikel droning and can focus on nothing else as it feels present and the texture of instrument comes out strong, like it’s cutting through smoke, much like how the eyes and mirror do on the album cover. For me, it was a hook that grabbed my attention.

   This pairs wonderfully with the closing Mordokh, which feels like the conclusion of a tale, where everything in between was like a journey connected with nature & spiritualism, starting from the flight of a black kite and ending on the coming of spring. The moment “Sokhor Eleenii Shirtelt” kicks in I can almost get this sense of a dancer moving to the rhythm and then moments of a bird in flight, perhaps the dancer representing the kite itself. Maybe it’s appropriate that on the morning of the day the album came out that I saw a kite in flight, as some nest near where I live.

   Steve does a wonderful job of bringing out the depth of the instrument and when he works with intricate melodies that harmonize with its drone that you start to forget this instrument only has 2 strings, like “Khia Dölön Buga”. It starts slow but then completely changes pace and you start to find the piece is more layered and complex than it first leads you to believe.

   The bundle is worth buying because you get the best quality version of the album, it’s a bit of money to support the artist and it comes with the whole story, which you follow track by track, which to me was a great idea and adds a layer of meaning, where you can feel it comes from a special place.

   The first few songs set up the scene, the invocation of a forefather, the sign of tengri watching as food and drink is shared amiably and then against the flow of an icy river the grandfather starts to tell his stories, beginning with the mother wolf. In the reading of the story that goes with “Gurinkh Ekh Chono” I can get the sense of motion in the music, where the pace and rhythm is almost like an animal sprinting and it ends on what sound like the crying of wolves.

   And as Khia Dönön Buga starts, we find that a story always has two sides and as it leads you through the tale, you understand why the music has a seemingly slow start and comes with a sudden change of pace and springs into action.

   Without the story, it only feel like you are getting half of the album, because you can connect the purpose in how each song is played with the accompanying text and it feels complete.

   In the digital download you will also see some of the behind-the-scenes to see just how much work and labour Steve put into this album as an insight to some of his process and see his working space and how he creating some of the art.

   So, with that love and labour put into it, it have felt wrong to not try and give Steve a thoughtful review on this album and to spend time appreciating the album before writing one. Hence this review and why I’ve done it this way, though I am by no means a professional reviewer of music nor have the vocabulary to fully express it.

   And truth be told, I’ve listened to the album many times since release because I enjoy listening to it; I am a sucker for music that tells a story and has a layer of meaning and depth.

2. 

   Lambert

   Rated 5 out of 5

   3rd July 2024

   Over the years Steve has shown incredible passion for Mongolian culture. He also has built up extensive knowledge, especially in the musical field. And together with his skills in calligraphy and videography he composed a masterpiece called Övgön buurain süyeger.

   His work allowed me to enjoy a wide variety of distinctive melodies and atmospheres along with some familiar tunes heard in well-known Tatlaga and Bii, like Balchin Heer, Builgan Shariin Yavdal and variations of Jonon. The voice that sings these songs is not of the famous Morin Khuur, but of the Ikel. An instrument similar, yet different than it’s horse-headed family member. Though, it’s just as enjoyable to listen to.

   The album also gives you space to let your imagination flow and visualize your own story. When I started listening I found Tamlaga to be a mysterious opening to a journey through an old and dark forest, unsure what to expect. After a period of time, one of the possible dangers can be heard in Gurinkh ekh chono. Here the wolf’s lingering and growling can be heard along with sinister howls in the distance. When you’re feeling more at ease after not having encountered any dangers, you get this feeling expressed in the song Belget zaraanii möröör. It gives you a warm sense of home, of a campfire, the peace of a cozy place. Comforted by these thoughts you continue your path through nature guided by the sound of the Ikel.

   But these are just a couple of my interpretations. When you have the complete album in your possession you can read the full story giving you the full experience of musical poetry that is Övgön buurain süyeger. Besides this you can have a look behind the scenes to get a better understanding of the creative process and have a higher appreciation for the artists love for traditional Mongol music.

   Steve has created something special. Something you don’t hear every day. And with that, I believe this album will provide something unique for listeners while contributing to cultural discovery and appreciation.

3. 

   Allard Meijer

   Rated 5 out of 5

   29th August 2025

   This album is a fantastic look into the mind of a man who completely surrerendered himself to- and immersed himself in Mongolian culture, not just by playing their music but also learningto ride horses, taking up caligraphy and diving into the amazing culture and history the country has to offer.
   Outside of Steve teaching and talking about Mongol ancestry, Mongol history, morin khuur and much more, this album is an even more intimate product of his years spent learning and living there.

   The first question I asked him when listening to the first couple of songs was “Are these renditions of existing songs or did you write/compose them yourself?” – counting on the first, but he told me it was the latter, which was mindblowing.

   The making of the cover art and all of the other fun behind the scenes stuff makes this an amazing gift to yourself, while also supporting an amazing artist. There’s plenty to unpack!

Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review. Log in