Today marks my last post from Beijing, as I will be flying out this evening to set up shop in Tbilisi, Georgia. On this occasion, I am excited to introduce my readers to Scattered Purgatory, a band I believe I featured on my old blog, A Miscellany of Tasteful Music. Continue Reading
Taiwan
Jun-Yang Li,Xiao Liu,DJ誠意重,Buddha Tiger Dog – 樹 Sù Vol.3
We have a unique recording from Taiwan featuring DJ 誠意重, a turntablist in the style of Christian Marclay, Philip Jeck, and Otomo Yoshihide. He collaborates on this album with the band 神仙老虎狗 (Buddha Tiger Dog), which includes Jun-Yang Li playing self-made instruments and objects, and Xiao Liu on saxophone. This project showcases free improvisation with an interesting twist.
Barbora Xu – Olin Ennen
I regret missing this release from our friends at Nordic Notes! Barbora Xu is a Czech singer and multi-instrumentalist who explores local poetry, string instruments, and vocal techniques in her music. According to her official biography, “Her work is deeply inspired by nature, capturing the calmness, fragility, and softness found Continue Reading
Leisure Time 閒暇 – Normal Music
Taiwanese band Leisure Time 閒暇 produce a music that sits in that hazy area between real and fake jazz. I think the quote the band used by the legendary Donald Fagen of Steely Dan sums up their sound best: “There was sort of cheap music, tv music, movie music. By Continue Reading
Mong Tong 夢東 – Mystery 秘神
We had the pleasure of reviewing Mong Tong last year. They have produced yet another surreal post-progressive electronic gem. On this album, there are elements of post-rock, modified traditional Taiwanese music, but also the eerie grooves which would do bands like Goblin proud, as the creepiness is quite subtle. Read Continue Reading
Dino – Pulsations
It is with a heavy heart that we have to report the passing of Dino, one of the pioneers of Taiwan’s noise scene. This squealing, squelchy noise masterpiece was released on Bandcamp in May of 2021 on Karma Detonation Tapes out of Taipei. May his memory be eternal. HT: Stacy Continue Reading
Mong Tong 夢東 – 台灣謎景 Music from Taiwan Mystery
Mong Tong are one of the most profoundly interesting bands operating out of Taiwan these days, and their work would compare favorably to psychedelic giants like Ghost or even quieter aspects of Acid Mothers Temple. From WV Sorcerer Productions’ Bandcamp site: Mong Tong is brothers Hom Yu, Jiun Chi (they Continue Reading
Li Daiguo (李帶菓) – Xiao Gong (笑功)
French label WV Sorcerer Productions 巫唱片 offers up a quiet, pulsating drone album from American-Taiwanese-Chinese composer Li Daiguo. As far as experimental music goes, this is dark and foreboding in a far more organized way that what I’m used to hearing. Quite a fine effort.