The lifestyles of the rich and famous are explored in AV Okubo’s eagerly anticipated sophomore album, Dynasty. Catch the band live, at the album release party on April 19 at Yugong Yishan.
“The album's Chinese name Yi Pin Guo Ji translates as ‘first class international.' It deals with the expectations of the upper class,”explains AV Okubo’s frontman and keyboardist, Lu Di.
“We wanted the English name to be a rough translation, like English titles of Hong Kong movies. Our producer Andy suggested Dynasty after the American TV show about oil tycoons. We loved it. We all used to watch it when it aired on CCTV in the early 90s and it’s also the name of China’s most expensive wine.”
Supplying the album’s English name is just one reason why producer Andy Gill’s involvement was a major coup for the band. In addition to producing the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ debut album, Gill was also the co-founder of post-punk pioneers Gang of Four, where his distinctive jagged guitar work helped to shape the sound of legions of bands, including Wuhan’s AV Okubo.
The two groups co-headlined shows at last year’s JUE Festival, an experience that Lu describes as “niu bi!” He’s still in disbelief that he got to sing on a new Gang of Four song and raves about the month Gill spent in Beijing working with the band on the album.
“Andy’s so good at eating! And drinking! He gives great speeches and has a lot of good stories about other bands,” Lu says. “He was a perfectionist when it came to the guitar and drum sounds but he knew what we wanted very clearly.”
It’s been nearly four years since AV Okubo released their debut album, The Greed of Man. Made up of Lu, guitarist Tan Chao, bassist Zuo Yi and drummer Hu Juan, the quartet has crafted a sound they dub “break-wave.” Their mix of wild riffs and energetic trashiness has won them positive reviews from Pitchfork among others, plus a coveted invitation to perform at South by Southwest prior to their debut album’s release.
With a name taken from the Wong Kar-Wai-produced Hong Kong First Love: The Litter on the Breeze, the odd art film that was stand-up comedian Eric Kot’s passion project, AV Okubo boast a Tarantino-esque playfulness perfectly captured in their tabletennis meets the Cultural Revolution inspired music video for ‘Break Wave.’ Though while the band display art school leanings, they’re very much a product of their industrial home.
All of the members had put in time working at one of Wuhan’s steel, chemical or water plants and actively maintain that the city is home to China’s wildest and most relevant punk scene.
“It’s definitely an influence,” Lu confirms. “Have you seen The Deer Hunter with the acid rain and chlorine gas? That’s how shitty Wuhan looked 20 years ago.”
Since forming in 2009, the band have established themselves as a live favorite. Lu remembers one gig at the now defunct Beijing punk club D-22’s that featured “a crazy dancer in a bikini” and another at Mao’s where they shared the stage with acclaimed international act Battles.
“After the last album, we have more fans, play bigger stages and get better time slots at music festivals,” Lu admits. “But life is still the same. As a rock band in China, you can’t be too demanding.”
While they maintain a presence in the live scene between albums, their April release party will mark the first time that audiences hear Dynasty in its entirety. It is a Maybe Mars double bill that also celebrates the release of Alpine Decline’s fifth album Go Big Shadow City.
For AV Okubo’s set, Wuhan comic Zi Jie will provide live visuals. Zi designed Dynasty’s neo-noir cover and the album will be available as a full-length vinyl as well. The group is also prepping a 7” release featuring two songs.
“The new album is very good!” Lu exclaims. “The feeling I get when I listen to it in on a crowded subway is diving into a black hole passing through this urban landscape that drives people crazy.”
// April 19, 9.30pm; RMB70-100; Yugong Yishan, 3-2 Zhangzizhong lu (100m west of Zhangzizhong lu subway station), Dongcheng 东城区张自忠路3-2号 (6404 2711, www.maybemars.org)
Photo by Charles Saliba
******************WIN!!!******************
We have a pair of tickets to give away for the AV Okubo show. E-mail bjeditor@urbanatomy.com with the subject 'AV Okubo' by April 12.
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