Tailwind Home

Equus are an Australian group formed around the vocals and horse-head fiddle (morin huur) playing of Mongolian musician Bukhu Ganburged. I don't know Ganburged's history, but his singing and playing sound slightly classical in style, suggesting a conservatoire training. The band's name comes, of course, from the horse sounds and rhythms so common in Mongolian music. The other band members are John Robinson playing Turkish saz, oud and some very fine slide guitar; Bertie McMahon on double bass; and Peter Kennard on percussion and drums.

The instruments blend well, but it's all very tasteful and polite. I expected something more thunderous from a track called ‘Sixty White Horses’ than the gentle saz, horse-head fiddle and ethereal overtones that we get. Good as a slightly exotic act at a festival, but I miss the extreme sounds and thrill of the top groups like Huun Huur Tu and Anda Union.