china beats presents :: FM3

Autumn finally has arrived (here in Berlin, at least). Looking out of the window you see trees slowly shedding their colourful leaves and a light gray sky.

No wonder the prevailing mood is often melancholic this time of year - the season makes many people yearn for atmospheric sounds that further stimulate contemplation and retrospection. Today's recommendation fits that sound profile perfectly well, in my view, and it doesn't matter at all that the album is not brand new.

As a matter of fact, the early pioneers of the Chinese electronic music scene, Hong Kong- / Beijing-based artists Christiaan Virant and Zhang Jian aka FM3, have become more celebrated for their ingenious Buddha Machine loop player (if you have no idea what the heck that is - just as poor me - see here) than for conventional studio work lately.

The first full-length album in a decade, 'Ting Shuo (听说)', as the most recent masterstroke by the two creative musicians is entitled, was released in November 2014 after the duo had toured mainland China and Hong Kong in 2013 and 2014, writing and recording along the way for this special project.

The ensuing tracks were mastered by Kassian Troyer in Berlin; the instruments used include a cello, a Steinway Grand piano and a vintage Roland keyboard as well as the mandatory Buddha Machine. Overall, the sound is more classical and melodic but as moody and innovative as ever.

Of course, the digital album is available for streaming and download via Bandcamp (for 5 US$ or more; plus VAT for EU buyers).

And in case you want to explore some more: Enjoy a short documentary that was originally filmed by Vice China in 2013 in Chinese language, introducing the two guys, the Buddha Machine player they invented and Buddha Boxing (don't panic, the newer version below has added English subtitles!).

News from NeoCha

Screenshot NeoCha

This one is an excellent recommendation listed among others on the English-language site of the Sapore di Cina (Flavour of China) blog on October 19 (note: the portal also has the original Italian and a Spanish version for those of you who are fluent in either language).

The post in question presents a couple of helpful China pages that can be found and followed on Facebook (personally, I prefer to visit the 'real', not the Facebook sites if existent).

(To be honest, I didn't know Sapore di Cina, an independent and extensive blog apparently produced by just two guys, until yesterday. But you might be aware that venerable China Law Blog promised to collect and subsequently present sources providing valuable China information after shutting down their blogroll.

And alas, three days ago, China Law Blog's Dan Harris referred to and commented on the Sapore di Cina list in this post.)

But back to the point. The online magazine I would like to recommend to you is called NeoCha. I have been looking around rather desperately for interesting pages about Chinese fashion, design, art, photography and music scenes or contemporary (sub)culture in general for quite some time, so I am thrilled to have come by this gem eventually.

Admittedly, NeoCha is not exactly a newcomer as the Shanghai-based special-interest outlet has been around since 2006. My bad.

Originally founded by a group of musicians, designers, programmers and entrepreneurs, the magazine nowadays doubles as a creative agency, aptly named NeoChaEDGE, that - in its own words - 'celebrates Chinese creativity'.

The award-winning agency (where the real bucks are made, obviously) focuses mostly on film and video productions as well as on illustration and graphic design work. It boasts of an impressive array of illustrious clients, including global footwear and lifestyle brands such as Adidas, Esprit, Nike or Starbucks.

The magazine itself, however, is not restricted to the latest trends in contemporary culture in Greater China, but also covers art scenes in other Asian countries, such as Japan, Korea, Thailand or Bangladesh. I was pleased to see that Neocha is multilingual - every article is in English and the respective language of the subject or region involved.

As you can see above, the main rubrics include art, design, fashion, lifestyle and video. The short articles typically feature current exhibitions, art projects, cultural events, new music venues, fashion shows, portraits of or interviews with cultural workers. All pieces are written expertly and accompanied by lots of gorgeous photos. The site's design, no wonder, is sleek, minimalist and professional.

Surprisingly, NeoCha / NeoChaEDGE do not shy away from strongly encouraging artists and designers to send their work or story ideas - to my knowledge, that's rather unusual in this line of business. Oh, not to forget, you can buy (more or less affordable) limited editions of art prints and products from up-and-coming Chinese artists and designers online via so-called 'The EDGE Shop'.

To sum it up, if you are passionate about any of the things mentioned above privately or professionally, don't hesitate and give it a try.

Martial arts with Taiwanese characteristics

Both critics and the jury at the 2015 Festival de Cannes were enthralled by the latest work of Hou Hsiao-hsien (侯孝賢), entitled 'The Assassin (聂隐娘 Nie Yinniang)'.

No stranger to the most important international film festivals, the renowned Taiwanese director, screenwriter, producer, actor and singer has won the Award for Best Director for his new masterpiece at the prestigious French event this May.

Also, The New York Film Festival has hosted the US première in September & October.

Best known for his contemplative portrayals of Taiwanese history and society, Hou's foray into the fiercely contested martial arts (wuxia) genre may surprise at first.

But he seems to be able to add whole new layers to the age-old genre and expand it way beyond stunning visuals and state-of-the-art choreography (for an extensive recent interview with Hou Hsiao-hsien about the making of, see here).

The wuxia epic 'The Assassin' stars Hou's muse, the Taiwan-born and Hong Kong-based actress and model Shu Qi, a film celebrity in her own right.

The martial arts saga takes the audience back to 9th century China during the reign of the Tang dynasty when a female assassin called Nie Yinniang devotes herself to the art of killing until her troubled past catches up with her and changes her route (for a pretty raving review in The Daily Beast, see here).

Watch the official trailer below and decide for yourselves ...