Phurpa - Trowo Phurnag Ceremony (2009)

Diving into total obscurity with this double LP from Phurpa, a Russian ensemble singing and playing ceremonial Tibetan music. Maybe it’s not that obscure after all, since I actually learned to know this band some years ago through one of our Belgian national radio stations. Radio Klara, the station where they mostly play classical music nota bene! I tried to pick up the CD afterwards, but couldn’t find it here, so I bought something sort a like ‘Monks of the Dip Tse Chok Ling Monastery’ (on Sound of the World). However, Ideologic Organ reissued some Phurpa music on vinyl, et voila…

Is this any good? Well, it’s overtone throat chanting: it sounds dark, mysterious, atmospheric, hypnotizing, repetitive… Sure not everyone is going to like it. Plus, there aren’t that much instruments involved, so it does get a little monotonous after a while. For example the CD I mentioned is definitely ‘easier’ listening material because of the instrumentations bringing some structure and variation. But it’s interesting and fascinating every once in a while.

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