Whatever you imagined about Chinese music, put it aside for this stunning compilation that captures China today. Yes, there's a brief (and actually very listenable) snippet of Chinese opera, but much of this is decidedly contemporary, whether it's the endearing, broken English semi-punk of Hang on the Box, or the simply otherworldly, captivating music of Urna. And to hear Tse Chun Yan on the qin, a type of zither, is to understand the possibilities of the instrument. The Chinese-German band, Wu Xing, offer plenty of space in their track, with a singing style that bridges the gap between classical and contemporary music. Following it with a classic cinema song from the pre-Communist era makes for a surreal juxtaposition, but still splendid, like walking farther and farther into an unknown but enchanting forest. While Chinese pop has often received a bad rap, the examples here show a very creative side, whether it's the atmospheric, building sound of Tats Lau, the rocker Cui Jian, or Ai Jing's classic "My 1997," which caused a controversy on its release in 1992. Put everything together here, even the intelligent new age of Kin Taii, and you have what's possibly the most persuasive -- and certainly the most accessible -- compilation of Chinese music available in the West. by Chris Nickson
Tracklist:
1 Cui Jian– Yi Wu Suo You (Nothing To My Name) 5:32
Written-By – Cui Jian
2 Urna– Silaihuar 6:00
Arranged By – Robert Zollitsch, Urna
Traditional
3 Yao Gongbai– Jiu Kuang 'The Drinking Song' 2:09
4 Bai Hong– Wo Yao Hui Jia (I Want To Go Home) 3:00
Lyrics By – Chen Dong-Sun
Music By – Yao Min
5 Ai Jing– My 1997 5:11
Music By – Eddie R
Music By, Lyrics By – Ai Jing
6 Min Xiao-Fen– Stone Forest Nocturne 4:57
Written-By – Lin Jieliang
7 Zheng Jun Mian & Li Hong– Hong Niang Hui Zhang Sheng 1:56
8 Silk Road Music– Shananxi Air 3:44
Arranged By – Qui-Xia He
Traditional
9 Hang On The Box– Yellow Banana 2:03
Bass [Uncredited] – Yi Lina
Drums [Uncredited] – Shen Jing
Guitar [Uncredited] – Yang Fan
Lyrics By – Yi Lina
Music By – Yang Fan
Music By, Lyrics By – Wang Yue
Vocals [Uncredited] – Wang Yue
10 Kin Taii– Nocturnal Light 5:15
Written-By – Kin Taii
11 Li Xiang Lan– Lan Guei Ji Ji 2:32
Lyrics By – Yi Fang
Music By – Yao Min
12 Tse Chun Yan– The Green Brook Running 4:50
Traditional
13 Sinkiang Uighur Autonomous Region, Song & Dance Ensemble– Titik Bostan 1:48
14 Wu Xing– Bo 3:56
Lyrics By – Hong Mi-Jen
Music By – Robert Zollitsch
15 Gong Chio Xia– Chiang Wei Cu Cu Kai 3:07
Written-By – Chen Ge-Xin
16 TATs Lau– Autumn Moon 2:35
Lyrics By – Kubert Leung
Music By – TATs Lau
17 Liu Fang & Frahan Sabbagh– The Night Of Bonfire 5:07
Written-By – Wu Junsheng
4.2.21
V.A. - The Rough Guide to the Music of China (2003) FLAC (tracks), lossless
V.A. - The Rough Guide to the Music of China (2012) 2xCD / FLAC (tracks), lossless
Tracklist 1 :
1 Zhang Yi-Wen– Shanghia Xiao Jie (Miss Shanghai) 2:35
2 Shanren– 30 Years 3:48
3 Xie Tian Xiao– The Tide, It Knows Not Why 4:15
4 Jah Wobble & The Chinese Dub Orchestra– L1 Dub 5:35
5 Red Chamber– Sunny Spring And White Snow 2:55
6 Min Huifen– Yangguan Pass Melody - Three Variations 5:03
7 Second Hand Rose– Picking A Flower 4:24
8 Urna– Uran Tangnai 2:54
9 Mieko Miyazaki & Guo Gan– Sai Ma 6:17
10 Chang Jing– In The Past 2:41
11 Li Guyi– A Bosom Friend 3:00
12 Panjir– Panjir 5:51
13 Cold Fairyland– Shadow Play 3:47
14 Hang On The Box– Koniqiwa Tokyo 1:51
15 The Shanghai Restoration Project– Night Life In Shanghai (Shanghai Restoration Project Remix) 4:25
16 Bai Guang– Qiu Ye (Autumn Night) 2:55
17 Liu Fang– Dao Chui Lian 3:06
18 Guo Lanying– My Motherland 5:27
Tracklist 2 :
Bonus CD: Introducing Hanggai 36:16
1 Hanggai– My Banjo And I 3:44
2 Hanggai– Yekul Song 2:55
3 Hanggai– Zhaoderen Nana 1:59
4 Hanggai– Five Heroes 5:31
5 Hanggai– Flowers 3:00
6 Hanggai– Haar Hu 3:24
7 Hanggai– Wuji 2:35
8 Hanggai– Lullaby (Borulai) 3:54
9 Hanggai– Drinking Song 3:58
10 Hanggai– Four Seasons 5:07
+ last month
e.s.t. — Retrospective 'The Very Best Of e.s.t. (2009) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
"Retrospective - The Very Best Of e.s.t." is a retrospective of the unique work of e.s.t. and a tribute to the late mastermind Esb...