(September 2009) While music has evolved tremendously over the years, listening to this
Anthology of Chinese Experimental Music perhaps references that essential link
to Ling Lun, who according to Chinese mythology paved the way for the expansion
of music in China.
There’s over 5 hours of listening on this compilation of abstract non academic
music from mainland China’s explosive underground – a scene that’s now emerging
and taking on a radical direction all of its own.
This collection spans many variations within the developing musical culture;
however, this particular noise art is an acquired taste.
Taking the listener on a fundamental journey, it demonstrates how artists have
fought against the grain of what has been some strictly controlled mainstream.
It has the potential to provide insightful listening for anyone who has a
growing interest in the study of Chinese culture or alternative musical
viewpoints.
With many extended stretches of crashes, blips and bleeps, much of the work
could easily have established a pride of place during the rise of the acid
house scene, which descended on the U.K. during the latter half of the 1980’s.
Given the aforementioned comparison, it would denote that some of the
experimentation on this work is marginally dated.
That said, there are some brief moments of picturesque harmony, but the work
mainly reverts back to scientific landscapes, nuclear sound waves and general
hi-tech engineering science, often making it hard to place.
A distinct exception to the rule occurs with the outlandish yet more traditional
instrumentation by Dancing Stone. Additional appeal occurs with intriguing
tracks by Loga – consisting of strong imaginary elements, Eric Lins’
psychological thriller, Z.S.LO’s techno explosions plus the complete war zone
generated by Torturing Nurse.
In the main, it can be drawn out; the compositions that materialise over the
four discs frequently become contaminated with the kind of abrasive sound that’s
about as subtle as a brillo pad on porcelain.
An Anthology Of Chinese Experimental Music 1992-2008 is out now on Sub Rosa. [Purchase
Related posts ::
Chinese Man :: Remix with the Sun (Chinese Man)
CHOP FESTIVAL :: Polish Experimental Music in China (November 16—18, 2012)
V/A :: Anthology Vol.2 (Free Sequence)
Synthetic Ecology 2 :: Finding the edge, some thoughts about ‘experimental music’
Frogbomb :: Experimental Electronic Music Television (Systorm Technologies)
