Gunesh ~ Turkmenistan

Looking at the Earth (1984)

---1/21/01

For their second album Looking at the Earth, Gunesh stepped it up a notch on the creative scale. We still have two barn burner horn rockers. This time, though, Gunesh also added some trippy Caucasus mountain music, Muslim prayer calls, psychedelia, hot fusion, Vietnamese traditional music, etc... to make for one of the finest albums I've ever heard. Rishad Shafi is possibly the greatest drummer to be found in the prog rock archives (Peter Gabriel considered him once but working it out with the Soviet authorities proved to be too much).

---11/5/26

After listening to both Gunesh albums back to back (multiple times I must add), I've come to the conclusion I like the debut better now. The conclusion of this has more to do with my elevated interest in that first album. I'm more familiar with their second album, having owned a copy for 32 years now. Looking at the Earth is the more consistent album for certain, and shaves off the ballads and other quirky pop rock sounds. The use of Hohner Clavinet is a dream for those who love the instrument generally associated with funk music. The horns remain tight as ever. The psychedelic element has been mostly removed, a small matter in the overall scheme of things. And of course, Shafi doesn't let us down with his massive drumming capability. My already high rating does not change for this fantastic album.

What's missing, for me at least, is the insane peak moments that the debut brings. Those three tracks I highlight below are pinnacles of my entire collection, especially A2.

Ownership: 1999 Boheme (CD). Titled Rishad Shafi Presents Gunesh. Includes the debut as well. Acquired in 2000.

First copy: 1984 Melodiya (LP). Acquired in 1994.

1994; 1/21/01 (review); 11/5/26 (update)

Gunesh (1980)

---1/21/01

Progressive music comes from all corners of the Earth but who would've suspected Turkmenistan? The words just escape me on just how brilliant their first two releases really are. In a nutshell they are a Middle Eastern sounding progressive horn rock / fusion group. But Gunesh are better than that may imply.

To describe the first album, Gunesh, imagine if the first Chicago Transit Authority album had among its ranks a drummer who was just an insane madman, and they played Middle Eastern themes. Unique? Oh yes! And unbelievably good too.

---11/4/26

It doesn't appear I've heard either of their albums in the last 25 years. Time to get them both into the UMR with a fresh listen. While the obvious instrumental highlight is the incredible drumming of Rishad Shafi, special mention should also go to vocalist Khajiriza Ezizov. He sings in a very impassioned manner, his voice always in control. I believe they call the style Bagshy (according to AI and a video I saw). There's also some wonderful psychedelic guitar interspersed among the tight horn charts. A2, A4, and B1 are all incredible highlights, and unlike anything else in my collection.

In looking at the CD, it appears only six of the eight songs are present. So I tracked down the missing pieces on YouTube. 'White Dove' (A3) is a sax driven sentimental ballad. B2 is very similar, though with a cool organ sound. One could see why these were chopped off of a prog rock oriented CD. But it does tell the whole story, and not surprising at all that these type of songs were on the LP proper. I can imagine that for those growing up in Turkmenistan, that this type of music would be much welcomed. We hear similar in Latin America during the 60s, 70s, and 80s.

Ownership: 1999 Boheme (CD). Titled Rishad Shafi Presents Gunesh. Includes the Looking at the Earth album as well. Acquired in 2000.

1/21/01 (review); 11/4/26 (update)

10/29/26 (new entry)