The big news on the music scene this month was the return of indie trio Carsick Cars, but that’s not all: their labelmates Muzzy Mum showed that the next generation of Chinese post punk bands are hard at work, while Shanghai’s An Corporation and Beijing’s ShallowEnd both delivered intense doses of post rock. On the more mellow side of things, Wuhan’s Sky King Jack offered a rare taste of Chinese ska, and techno veteran SHAO released an excellent ambient album — Editor.
Carsick Cars – Aha 口
Beijing’s Carsick Cars — who were at the forefront of the booming indie scene in the 2000s — return with their first album in a decade, Aha, which is both a return to form and a sincere attempt to settle down. It sounds great, with a crisp yet richly layered production style that feels more like an ode to Velvet Underground than Sonic Youth. And while its slower, more reflective patches meander a bit too long in the middle section of the album, the band’s noisier, guitar-driven sensibilities crackle with a newfound energy that sweeps you right up. Far from a grand slam, Carsick Cars’ latest may not be as revelatory as some might hope it to be, but it’s a great addition to the band’s catalogue, one that finds the trio paying tribute to their past whilst looking ahead.
Various Artists – Shelter For Every Urban Soul 都市灵魂庇护所 Vol. 01 & 02
For those clamoring for some R&B this season, Netease Music has you covered with two bountiful compilations that dig deep into the world of urban pop music here in China. A neon-soaked, bubbly, and sultry blend of contemporary R&B — from funk-laced city pop ballads to more jazzy hip hop waltzes — Shelter For Every Urban Soul Vol. 1 & 2 bring in an eclectic spread of artists, from R&B singer MIA AIM to emerging funk artist 邓博伦BlackreDSpirit, to capture the buzz, hustle, and sensual pull of summer.
An Corporation – An Corporation
Shanghai instrumental rock outfit An Corporation — known for their grandiose, exploratory, and almost apocalyptic sound — shake listeners to their core on their confident self-titled debut. Hefty, potent, and gripping in its atmospheric pull, the band, which boasts both a double bassist and violinist alongside its drummer and guitarist, makes post rock on a grand scale, in the vein of acts like Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Russian Circles. Full of sweeping passages, defiant codas, and taut musicality that’s more often found in metal acts, it relishes the opportunity to go against the grain, as on the frantic and anarchist “White Dragon Horse” or the drone-heavy mood-setter “拨”, actively avoiding the sentimental sheen post rock often too eagerly smears on, and instead thrusting upon listeners with its abundant ideas and textures. For those who like their instrumental rock with a bit more grit and a heck ton more bite, An Corporation is just the kick.
Shallow End 浅水 – Afterlife 来世
One of the more exciting new acts to emerge out of Beijing in recent years has been ShallowEnd. Peddling in tender soaring indie rock tropes with elements of math rock and post rock, the band continues to develop and redefine their sound on their newest EP, Afterlife. Veering further into prog rock, post metal, and post rock territory, their songs feel bigger, heftier and more assured — more mature in not only their instrumentation but in their presentation too. It may throw some listeners off on first listen but this new release only makes me more anxious to see where they go from here.
Muzzy Mum – The Nine Thousandth Pair of Eyes
Xinxiang post punk band Muzzy Mum continue to shake off the residue of their forefathers on their sophomore release, The Nine Thousandth Pair of Eyes, released with Maybe Mars. The band’s trademark urban decay lyricism and jagged musicality feels more pointed this time around — most evident by how a third of the album isn’t available here (a badge of honor I suppose). Meanwhile, elements of noise, no wave, and even jazz are welcome additions to their sound. False prosperity, stunted discourse, and aunties reliving their glory days — it’s all fair game for the disenfranchised, soundtracked by bleeding guitar distortion, ear-piercing drums, and bluntly delivered vocals.
SHAO – For The Peaceful Night Vol. 1
Techno rave staple SHAO finds solace in the night sky above on his latest ambient release, For The Peaceful Night Vol. 1, which finds the renowned producer looking for peace of mind amongst the sonic tidings of the moon. Intimate, idyllic, and lush without ever overdoing it, this is a patient piece of work, a steady journey down a stream of slowing burning electronica, complimented by top-notch instrumentation courtesy of esteemed musicians like Zhang Weiwei (accordion), Chang Jing (guzheng/vocals), Zhao Pan (guitar/vocals), and Wang Wenwei (guitar). An immersive, evocative work from a producer who seems to be opening up more and more.
Kofey 李克非 – 6
Multi-talented artist Kofey, hailing from Yunnan and based in Shanghai, released his latest EP 369 — a science fiction avant pop trip into the unknown — this past spring. Evoking such genre-bending acts like Perfume Genius for the computer age, it made Kofey an act to watch out for. Taking his knack for using his music to construct imaginative visual spaces, the artist recently directed this spellbinding video for the middle track “6”, centered on three pre-cogs monks praying at the altar of the omnipotent camera lens.
Hedgehog – Abyss 悲鸣
Since their establishment in 2005, Beijing’s indie stalwarts Hedgehog have become one of the scene’s most prolific outfits, churning out a new album every couple of years. And while the band’s core lineup changed significantly last year with the exit of drummer Atom, Hedgehog has continued to work, with a new album just around the corner. One of the latest singles from their upcoming 11th album now gets the music video treatment, with an appropriately grungy, scrappy shoot set in an abandoned building that looks to recapture the grit of the band’s earlier years.
Birdstriking – B1RD5TRIKING 鸟撞十五周年北京现场
Beijing indie rock stalwarts Birdstriking have graced the scene for fifteen years now, elevating their sound from their scrappy noise punk roots to an almost arena rock level while maintaining their sincerity and infectious energy throughout. They celebrate appropriately with a new live LP, recorded at their anniversary concert and featuring songs from across their extensive career (plus a couple of unreleased tracks). A bottle rocket of vigor, vitality, and spirit — rock and roll at its purest — it’s unapologetically messy, unruly, dogged, and exuberant all at once, a fitting tribute to a band that, despite maturing and evolving over the past decade and a half in particular, touching, and sometimes downright goofy ways, have never lost their touch.
Sky King Jack – Time Is Coming 即刻到达
No frills ska music, with a touch of reggae for those inclined. Wuhan’s Sky King Jack is as genuine as they come: a stacked lineup of gifted musicians with an affinity for that rocksteady sound. Far from the gimmicky reggae or wiseass ska punk you might find elsewhere in China, Sky King Jack goes for a more old school vibe, evoking greats like The Skatalites, Burning Spear, Lee Scratch Perry, and Jackie Mittoo (the inspiration for their band name), while giving their rhythms a jazzy Latin flavor. It goes down smooth.
Banner image by Haedi Yue.
