Talking Tunes: Gar Gets Chopped, Djang San Is At It Again, In3 Show Cancelled

Kipp Whittaker | Feb 13, 2014 5:00 pm | Add a comment | 1779 reads

This has been a big month for new music with many artists gearing up for post CNY touring and the local show circuit. Just as Maybe Mars wunderkinds Carsick Cars will be releasing their new album 3 later this month at Yugong Yishan, Gar will release a new EP later this week.

Though they have been off the grid for the past year, they are back with Time Cue- Remix. This release includes the original song Time Cue, which was included on their previous album The City of Burning Identities, as well as three versions of remixes that approach this track from a very different point of view. It is interesting to hear how these DJs rework the sound to create something utterly unique and satisfying. My favorite interpretation is the Sulumi Remix, with layered chanting at the beginning and a nice swinging beat, with snappy rim shots and synched up oscillator noise. Listen and download for free on the Maybe Mars Bandcamp.

There are also a couple of new albums from one of the busiest guys in Beijing, Djang San. He never ceases to impress me with the quantity and quality of his output. These albums bring his overall style and musical prowess to a new height. The first is Music Dumplings, ten tracks of intelligently composed instrumentals, filled with delicate textural noises, weird layered vocals and insanely catchy hooks that sound very cinematic and beautiful.

The next album is Love is a Detention Center for Lonely People. This comes across as more of a pop album, with nice lyrics and a knowledgable sense of construction. These tracks all work very nicely together, perfectly combining his interests in gypsy folk, synth pop, and sometimes even nearing a mid '80s Ryuchi Sakamoto acoustic-electric kind of vibe. Very impressive. Do yourself a favor and give it a listen.

The last bit of news to share with you is that the In3, Born to Be Rappers show at Yugong Yishan Fri 14, has been cancelled. If you bought an advance ticket please go to the box office where the ticket was purchased and you will be given a full refund.

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