Think Mongolian music and throat-warblers Hanggai will most likely spring to mind. But Beijing's Mongolian contingent is far, far bigger than just one band, and has many stars that shine just as bright - such as experimental group Ajinai.
Consisting of multi-instrumentalist and throat-singer Hugjiltu (formerly of - you guessed it - Hanggai), bassist and electronic whizz Ye Penggang (also of indie rockers Glorious Pharmacy), backing vocalist Azi and percussion expert Zhang Yang, this charmingly diverse group have an eclectic selection of songs. Their debut album, the release of which is marked by
a performance at Yugong Yishan in July, features an even split between their own compositions and experimental covers of ancient Mongolian folk songs.
Their heritage is at the core of Ajinai's philosophy; even their name - which means 'fine horse' - has a connection to Mongolian history, as Hugjiltu explains: 'Mongolian horses are known for their stamina and ability to keep cool in chaotic battles, especially when they ran alongside our heroic king Genghis Khan. All these characteristics are what we want for our band, not only in music but also in life.'
The album launch will see them supported by Tibetan vocalist Tsakalho, folk singer Wu Tun and multi-instrumentalist Song Yuzhe, who also works with Hugjiltu on world music project Dawanggang.