“The sound of an ancient city learning to make modern hymns.
Lonely China Day, however, are among the first to bring the genre to the national forefront, filtering laptop glitches, icy arpeggios, minimalistic rhythm patterns, and precious melody through a Chinese lens. Combined with guitarist/vocalist Deng Pei’s gorgeous Mandarin pronunciation (there’s no beauty like the Beijing roll of the “r” sound), the results are more than what one would expect from a country seemingly oblivious to the American underground. Perhaps it’s because Chinese blood runs in my veins, but Lonely China Day’s use of “dead poetry” from the Song and Tang dynasties adds such a spine-chilling element to their music that I am instantly transfixed the moment Deng opens his mouth. This sophisticated awareness of one’s cultural background and achievements instantly feels different than the average Chinese egotistical, nationalistic attitude toward “being the center of the world.” It is full of humility, self-introspection, respect for the outside world and nature, not to mention in line with the ancient Chinese’s high regard for abstract, daring, progressive art making. It shines like a beacon of hope in that perhaps not all Chinese people have forgotten the true greatness of our culture: that we once prided ourselves on being humble, courteous, creatively adventurous, etc.”
——- Tim Den “Transform online”
Online tickets:http://bj.clubzone.cn/event/9222/
- Start:
- Tickets: Rmb 49.9
