NEW YORK POST, TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1999 BACK TUVA FUTURE Ondar, a master of throat singing, has a humdinger in "Back Tuva Future," already destined to contend as one of the best releases of 1999. History of Tuva 101: Deep in the heart of Asia, at the headwaters of Siberia's Yenisei River, lies the lost land of Tannu Tuva. For 2,000 years - if you're counting - Tuvan horsemen split their time between being nomadic herdsmen and fighting for Genghis Khan. When they weren't being the scourge of Asia, the Tuvan horsemen would kick back 'round the campfire and listen to "throat singers" who could hum as many as four notes at the same time in a song. History of Tuva 102: The Soviet Union gobbles up the Tuvan homeland. Tuvans are told: Resistance is futile, assimilate and stop that annoving throat singing. A few decades later, the U.S.S.R. collapses and master throat singer Ondar (Kongar-ol Ondar to his pals back home) starts roaming the globe, demonstrating his awesome talent. Pretty simple, huh? Yet, on Ondar's Back Tuva Future," the singer makes some complex music with (oddly enough) some of Nashville's hottest session men, including Randy Scruggs on acoustic guitar and mandolinist Sam Bush. Willie Nelson even gets in on the act; offering a spoken-word translation of a Tuvan tune. Although Tuvan folk and country music share a love of trusty horses and good-looking women, the musical meld goes way beyond this common subject matter. Will you like the music? It's hard not to. But it is so foreign, it may take a couple of spins to get used to it. At first it may sound like Ondar's vocals drone, but when you listen carefully (especially with headphones or through a hot stereo system), the multi--octave, harmonic distinctions of throat singing unfold. Whether you listen to rap or opera, you'd be hard pressed not to be amazed at Ondar's vocal gift. Speaking of rap, there's a piece on the disc called "Kargyraa Rap" - a drum 'n' vocal piece - where Ondar sings Tuvan non-sense tongue-twisters. Of the 10 songs, "Eki A'ttar" ("Good Horses") is the album's best composition. Here, the Tuvan singer gets simpatico with fast-tempo old-time bluegrass. In this piece, Bush and Scruggs actually sound as if they may be having a time keeping up with Ondar as he wails on the doshpuluur (the Tuvan three-string banjo). On "Two Lands One Tribe," Ondar performs a two-note Tuvan style known as sygyt, which is nothing less than incredible. Don't be fooled into thinking this is New Age mush; instead, think of it as world music of the highest order. Handing over this week's CD allowance for this one may seem like a too-far leap of faith, but "Back TUVA Future" (in spite of its Tuva cute name) is a beautiful collection that has a fine, timeless quality to it. This is 1999's first contender as one of the year's 10 best discs. Dan Aquilante New York Post- Top Ten CD's of 1999- December, 1999 1. Californication - Red Hot Chili Peppers 2. The Fragile - Nine Inch Nails 3. When The Pawn Hits... - Fiona Apple 4. Run Devil Run - Paul McCartney 5. Quench - The Beautiful South 6. Da Real World - Missy Elliott 7. Midnight Vultures - Beck 8. Looking Forward - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young 9. Charlotte Church - Charlotte Church 10. Back TUVA Future - Ondar

Ondar- New York Post Review & Top Ten