Music

In our world’s modern melting-pot of culture-spanning ethnic music, the anomaly known as Equus recently released their second full-length studio album, Tailwind Home, on February 5th. Developing the unique sound first defined on debut Southern Man six years prior, an expanded stylistic fusion continues to bemuse, thrill and delight audiences over nine tracks blending Traditional Mongolian and Turkish songs with Middle Eastern and Mediterranean elements through traces of jazz, blues and fusion. Some ethereal and evocative original pieces are to be heard too, as world renowned Mongolian throat singer Bukhu Ganburged leads his multicultural quartet through many moments of improvised sonic rapture.

In an intoxicating mix deriving from traditional ethnic disciplines and modern jazz technique, a world of Mongolian horse head fiddle, Turkish saz, oud, and Vietnamese jaw harp has joyously been opened again, alongside a handful of more conventional instruments to be heard on this release. The Mongolian lyrics take major influence from nature, love, and wise historical parables. Taking care to emphasise ‘no auto-tune or technological trickery’ used in the making of this album, Equus pride themselves upon a deep trance groove with a plethora of rapidly shifting musical styles. Key tracks to embody this approach are rapidly danceable opener ‘See Ser Salhi’, the beautiful and slow-burning ‘Five Hills’, and ‘Huurhun Haliun’, a slow, graceful piece of fiddle, strings and incredible throat singing. Prepare to be stunned by some superb vocal moments within this album, with some dry, spacious atmospheres transporting one’s mind to the vast landscape shown on the album cover. The music of Equus is hard to classify and impossible to recreate. Genre-defying genius.

Take a listen for yourself below.