Yin (音, “music”) is a weekly RADII feature that looks at Chinese songs spanning hip hop to folk to modern experimental, and everything in between. Drop us a line if you have a suggestion.
Happy Year of the METAL RAT! To celebrate we’ve put together a feature-film-length mix of new tunes that’ll be soundtracking our 2020. Premieres, previews, demos and deep cuts from some our favorite artists covering a wide geographical and genre spread. Stream it below, and find a full track list below the embed.
[00:00] Zhang Ke – “钟声2″ — play rec, forthcoming
[00:37] Deadly Cradle Death – “Deadly Keithyeetal” — Maybe Mars, forthcoming
[05:36] BurgerSuicideClub – “Second Hand Wig” — demo; look for a debut release from this Shanghai band in 2020
[10:02] Mirrors – “Within an Endless Dream” — Ruby Eyes Records
[15:31] 工工工 – Rhythm n’ Drone III — excerpt from an upcoming, self-released cassette; watch for 工工工 to embark on another ambitious tour in May
Yin: Beijing Duo 工工工 Channels Spartan Groove on “Phantom Rhythm”The band’s spare, barely-there rhythms were hashed out in a former Beijing bomb shelterArticle Oct 18, 2019
[18:54] Wang Zijian – “热风” — WV Sorcerer, forthcoming
[23:45] The Bad Molds – “Dancing with the Dead Lover” — Spacefruity Records, forthcoming
[26:30] Gatsby in a Daze – “Volcanic Elegy” — Ruby Eyes Records
Guangzhou’s Qiii Snacks Records is Capturing the Sound of Southeastern ChinaArticle May 22, 2018
[32:39] Nein or Gas Mus – “A Story of Chaosreload” (demo) — Qiii Snacks, forthcoming
[36:02] Tingting x Xi Chenchen x Blurrycloud – “Sleepy Winter” — Eating Music, forthcoming
Artist, Entrepreneur, and Vinyl Visionary Cookie Zhang Wants to Change China’s Taste in MusicArticle Sep 11, 2018
[39:44] ver_1015e – “Dark Disco” (excerpt) — RAN, forthcoming
[41:11] L_Y_Li – “Chasing the Sun” — RAN Groove, forthcoming
Yin: Writhing Club Track “Invertebrate” by Hangzhou’s GUANArticle Oct 12, 2018
[44:05] GUAN – “Drone A” — preview from an upcoming release by the Hangzhou producer and FunctionLab co-founder
[48:35] kaishandao – “demo” — preview of coming attractions from the Chengdu underground pot-stirrer
Scene Report: Chengdu’s Underground Music Scene Flourishes in the Cracks and Shadows of a Construction BoomAn insider’s guide to the Sichuan capital’s bubbling hotbed of creative music cultureArticle Apr 13, 2019
[50:21] Stolen – “Electric Echo” (remix) — from an upcoming EP remixing some earlier tracks from New Order’s favorite band, who are celebrating their 10th anniversary with a comprehensive China tour this year
[54:57] GG Lobster – “Adoration of Sons” — just released on FunctionLab
Listen: Hangzhou Producer GG Lobster Fucks Up Punk ClassicsThis total curveball from the co-founder of Hangzhou label FunctionLab is definitely the best 21 minutes of 2019 so farArticle Jan 17, 2019
[59:03] T5UMUT5UMU – “Thunder Squall” — FunctionLab, forthcoming
[01:02:13] Vengeful Spectre – “The Expendables” — early contender for heaviest of 2020, released last week by Chinese Metal purveyors nonpareil, PEST Productions
Listen to Our Chinese Metal Megamix‘Tis the season to keep it evilArticle Oct 22, 2019
[01:09:00] Sheng Jie – “Menbasaitunabo” — this solo album by classically trained violinist and consummate experimentalist Sheng Jie (aka gogoj) is set to finally get a proper release this year, from WV Sorcerer x Maybe Noise
[01:14:14] Wang Xiao – “The Son of Black Horse River” — WV Sorcerer, forthcoming
Yin: Two New Releases Channel the Sound of the Steppe and Northwest ChinaNew forms and new sounds taking inspiration from different geographical pockets of China’s diverse ethnic folk soundscapeArticle Jan 17, 2020
[01:19:22] 白金花 – “额尔德尼赛罕” — from the excellent, recent Sound of Walking compilation
[01:24:40] Shushu & Swimful – “Things You Don’t Need to Know” — preview cut from a forthcoming collaboration
[01:28:45] Bloodz Boi – “Hey Moon” (ft. Katie Vick) — Bubble Gum Violence, forthcoming
“Like a Cyborg Mutant”: Multimedia Artist Jiafeng Digests Modern ChinaArticle Jul 12, 2018
[01:31:55] jiafeng – “圆寂美少女” — a taste of protean artist jiafeng‘s latest incarnation/avatar
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More great music from China:
The Best Chinese Music of the Decade, Via Its Most Influential Record LabelsThe curators, self-publishers, cassette dubbers, taste-makers, scene-builders and community sustainers who gave underground Chinese music a whole 2010s vibeArticle Dec 13, 2019
City Mix: Heady Brew from ChengduThe sound of Chengdu: mechanical, industrial hammering against warm, floral tones, all doused with a generous amount of chili oilArticle May 22, 2019
CITY MIX: Something in the Hangzhou WaterArticle Aug 14, 2018