Mamer: Eagle, Real World Records

Drawing inspiration from the songs and poems of the grasslands where he grew up, Xinjiang-born ethnic Kazak singer-songwriter Mamer's new album Eagle finds him in an introspective mood.

Its collection of songs deals with universal grassland themes - the nature of man, the delicate balance of man and nature, and the temptations of modernity.

Besides Mamer's singing and playing of the two-stringed dombra, Eagle also features a duet with multiple-Grammy award winner Bela Fleck plus a bonus mix by the late French producer Hector Zazou.

Hanggai: Introducing Hanggai, World Music Network

"Hanggai" is a Mongolian word that describes an idealized grassland landscape of mountains, trees, rivers and blue skies. Made up of young musicians from Beijing and Inner Mongolia, Hanggai offer contemporary interpretations of traditional Mongolian folk songs in their albums.

Many of the songs use hoomei, a throat-singing technique that has been handed down over hundreds of years. At the heart of their music are two traditional instruments, the morin khuur (horse-head fiddle) and the tobshuur, a strummed two-stringed lute.

Western instruments are also used to create a connection between East and West. For example, Five Heroes, a song of vigilantes stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, features the sounds of the electric guitar, conjuring up cowboy movies.