Brian LavelleFeb 1

#NowPlaying IZ 'Drop by Old Heaven Books’ (2021) 3CD

A mammoth (3 hour, plus separate DVD) live release by one of Mamer's many projects, here the trio of him, 夏力 Xalhar and 张东 Zhang Dong recorded over two nights in January 2021 at Old Heaven Books, Shenzhen, China.

The first disc (acoustic guitar, percussion, vocals) is apparently “folk”, but has a propulsive, Neu!-like motorik groove which is darkly brilliant; the second (electric guitar, bass, percussion, vocals) is all improvised by the trio; and the third is Mamer solo on dombra and classical guitar.

The aesthetic of these Old Heaven Books' releases is wonderful, all tied together by the striking woodcuts of 刘庆元 Liu Qingyuan. This set comes in a corrugated fibreboard slipcase with a poster, and the DVD has films of all three sets in their entirety. Just amazing work all round from IZ and Old Heaven Books (I would love to visit their shop one day!).

#Mamer #马木尔 #IZ #IZBand #OldHeavenBooks #KazakhMusic #KazakhUndergroundMusic #ImprovisedMusic @improvisedmusic

https://oldheavenbooks.bandcamp.com/album/drop-by-old-heaven-books

路过旧天堂书店 Drop by Old Heaven Books, by IZ

29 track album

Old Heaven Books
The Times of Central AsiaJan 27
Kazakh national instruments like the dombra and kobyz are finding new life in contemporary music as young artists blend tradition with modern sounds https://ow.ly/WJ3k50Y4oC9 #Kazakhstan #Culture #Music #Dombra #CentralAsia #MereyOtan #KazakhMusic #Kobyz

TCA Interview: Musician Merey ...
TCA Interview: Musician Merey Otan on the Reinvention of Kazakh Musical Instruments - The Times Of Central Asia

MO: I see nothing wrong with experimentation. On the contrary, bands like Steppe Sons show deep respect for heritage. Their members have formal musical

The Times Of Central Asia
The Times of Central AsiaJan 27
Kazakh national instruments like the dombra and kobyz are finding new life in contemporary music as young artists blend tradition with modern sounds https://timesca.com/tca-interview-musician-merey-otan-on-the-reinvention-of-kazakh-musical-instruments/ #Kazakhstan #Culture #Music #Dombra #CentralAsia #MereyOtan #KazakhMusic #Kobyz
The Times of Central AsiaJan 16
Yenlik becomes the first artist from Kazakhstan to perform on COLORSxSTUDIOS marking a breakthrough moment for Kazakh music on the global stage https://ow.ly/mpBK50XXW5S #Kazakhstan #Music #CentralAsia #KazakhMusic #COLORSxSTUDIOS #Yenlik

Kazakhstan’s Yenlik Brings Her...
Kazakhstan’s Yenlik Brings Her Sound to COLORS - The Times Of Central Asia

Kazakhstani singer and songwriter Yenlik has made history by becoming the first artist from Kazakhstan to be featured on the international music platform

The Times Of Central Asia
The Times of Central AsiaJan 16
Yenlik becomes the first artist from Kazakhstan to perform on COLORSxSTUDIOS marking a breakthrough moment for Kazakh music on the global stage https://timesca.com/kazakhstans-yenlik-brings-her-sound-to-colors/ #Kazakhstan #Music #CentralAsia #KazakhMusic #COLORSxSTUDIOS #Yenlik
Brian LavelleJan 2

A very welcome musical discovery for me this month—yes, I’m behind a very ouroboric (ouroborosian?) curve here—is the music of Kazakh musician Mamer (马木尔). Currently devouring everything I can find by him. Almost two decades of material, from the minimalist to the very intense and noise-drenched to enjoy!

#Mamer #马木尔 #ExperimentalMusic #ImprovisedMusic #AlternativeMusic #KazakhMusic #Dombra #OldHeavenBooks

KavortoDec 7
In Bashkir (think Kazakhstan) mythology, Shurale is a forest spirit who kills people by TICKLING THEM TO DEATH. How spectacular is that? Other mythologies really need to up their game, "Tickling Shurale" is a song inspired by the idea of giving Shurale a taste of his own medicine. #shurale #kazakhstan #bashk #kazakh #kazakhmusic
The Times Of Central Asia | Eurasian Publication & News OnlineOct 21

Q-Pop Is Back. Is Kazakhstan Ready This Time?

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://timesca.com/q-pop-is-back-is-kazakhstan-ready-this-time/

The Times of Central AsiaMar 10, 2025
Dimash Kudaibergen's song, 'Love’s Not Over Yet,' shines on Times Square timesca.com/kazakhstans-... #DimashKudaibergen #KazakhMusic #GlobalArtist #TimesSquare #WorldMusic #LovesNotOver
Kazakhstan’s Dimash Kudaibergen Lights Up Times Square - The Times Of Central Asia

The music video is being displayed on four screens at three different locations, including a prominent site featuring both a main and overhead screen. One of

The Times Of Central Asia
The Times of Central AsiaMar 10, 2025
Kazakh singer Dimash Kudaibergen's global artistry shines as his latest song, "Love’s Not Over Yet," captivates audiences on Times Square billboards, reflecting his rising influence in the international music scene https://timesca.com/kazakhstans-dimash-kudaibergen-lights-up-times-square/ #DimashKudaibergen #KazakhMusic #GlobalArtist #TimesSquare #WorldMusic
Kazakhstan’s Dimash Kudaibergen Lights Up Times Square - The Times Of Central Asia

The music video is being displayed on four screens at three different locations, including a prominent site featuring both a main and overhead screen. One of

The Times Of Central Asia