For many in the West, 2016 will be remembered for Trump, Brexit, terrorism in Europe and an absurd number of pop culture deaths, from Bowie to Muhammad Ali. By comparison, China had an unusually quiet year. Nonetheless, there were still a few goings-on in the world's most populous country.
In our 2016 Year in Review series, we recap the best (and worst) of China's year in the worlds of technology, social media, sport, fashion, food, arts and more.
Loved by some, missed by many – here’s our Top 50 Albums of 2016 from Chinese mainland This year marked the return of the father of yaogun, the impressive evolution of a teenage jazz prodigy and a trio of outstanding Blade Runner-inspired discs from Shanghai. For the full 2016 Top 50 Albums List click here. For past editions, visit our 2013 Notable Albums list, our 2014 Top 25 Chinese mainland Albums list and our 2015 Top 50 Mainland Records list.
30. Conrank: Hemispheres
英式蛋炒饭: Hemispheres
(Liquid Amber)
Genre: Bass
Buy/Stream: Bandcamp, Xiami, 163.com, iTunes
Follow: Douban, Facebook
He may have taken the road less travelled, but UK producer Conrank's path to a global takeover opened up to North America in 2016. Holding it down for Shanghai's bass scene for years, he links with DJ Shadow for the ninth release on the iconic producer's Liquid Amber imprint. As usual, Conrank brings a futuristic take on hard-hitting bass, linking with homegrown producers like Rankadank's Zean and international stalwarts like East London OG rhymer Blak Twang.
29. Long Shen Dao: Freedom
龙神道: 自由
(Modern Sky)
Genre: Reggae
Buy/Stream: 163.com, Modern Sky, iTunes
Follow: Douban, Facebook
Formed by veterans of Beijing's rock scene to fill a musical void, Long Shen Dao has been praised as 'China's first authentic reggae band.' They've brought their distinct Tai Chi Reggae to stages across North America and Europe where they've overcome skepticism for their dreadlocks by impressing by naturally incorporating traditional instruments like the guzheng into the genre. Their experiences on the road shows on their sophomore disc with a hardened sound and collaborations with Dutch DJ crew Party Squad and UK producer Vibronics.
28. WoGui de HuoChe: Aftermath
卧轨的火车: 余波
(self-released)
Genre: Indie
Buy/Stream: Xiami, 163.com, iTunes
Follow: Douban
Formerly monopolized by big cities, indie scenes are popping up across China's second tier cities like Chengdu (Hiperson, Stolen) and Kunming (South Acid Mimi Dance Team). On their remarkably assured full-length debut, WoGui de HuoChe puts Hangzhou on the map. Recorded over the summer in the mountains, the trio invokes memories of the 90s adding a melanchoic dream-pop touch to their hazy neo-psychedelia.
27. Jason Hou: Origin
Jason Hou: 原
(Do Hits)
Genre: Electronic
Buy/Stream: Bandcamp, Xiami, 163.com, iTunes
Follow: ,
It was a big year for Beijing electronic label Do Hits! and co-founder Jason Hou took full advantage. The avant-garde producer debuted the official video of lead single `Build` at the inagural (and hella packed) Boiler Room Beijing and Origin lives up to that early hype with its primite mix of seemingly disconnected influences from Chinese ethnic folk music samples to Latino grooves.
26. A Si: My Foolish Idealism
阿肆: 我愚蠢的理想主义
(Modern Sky)
Genre: Indie-pop
Buy/Stream: QQ Music, 163.com, Modern Sky, iTunes
Follow: Douban
It's been a remarkable ascent for the Shanghainese singer-songwriter who went from working at an EF Language School to Queen of Douban thanks to her online hit 'Eating Fried Chicken at People Square' being covered on a hit reality TV competition show. While she talks tough on the brassy English language opener, 'Kick Ur Ass,' A-Si's charms really shines when she indulges in the indie-pop that seems to come so naturally.
25. The Fuzz: The Root of Innocence
法兹乐队: 童心之源
(Maybe Mars)
Genre: Indie Rock
Buy/Stream: Bandcamp, Xiami, QQ Music, 163.com
Follow: Douban, Facebook
Perennial favorites on the music festival circuit, Xi'an quartet The Fuzz take a major leap on their third album and first on Beijing indie instiution Maybe Mars. Produced by P.K. 14's Yang Haisong, The Root of Innocence captures the group at their most confident with plenty of early 80s new wave flourishes that will make New Order and The Cure fans smile. It's just the start of what promises to be an epic journey - the band recorded its follow-up during their ambitious 41-city national tour last summer.
24. J-Fever, Tangrenti & ChaCha: Strangers to Shanghai
小老虎, 唐人踢 & ChaCha: 海上的一位
(Jadecraft)
Genre: Hip Hop
Buy/Stream: Bandcamp, 163.com, Soundcloud
Follow: ,
Three of China's top emcees team up for this love letter to Shanghai. Often referred to as "China's best freestlye rapper," J-Fever has been at the top of his game for awhile, consistently releasing acclaimed discs including last year's standout collaboration with Soulspeak, Colour Blind. Yunnan based Tangrenti has been making waves nationally with his abstract hip-hop style, while ChaCha is already a Shanghai legend, most recently absolutely shutting it down at the recent record-setting Boiler Room in her hometown. Strangers to Shanghai keeps things simple - just three pros carefreely flowing over beats that evoke Golden Age era hip hop and China (with a Family Mart sample even thrown in).
23. Lofimaker: Lion Drum Sound
Lofimaker: 狮鼓鸣
(Babel Records)
Genre: Electronic
Buy/Stream: Bandcamp, Xiami, 163.com, Soundcloud
Follow: Douban, Soundcloud,
Mixing traditional Chinese sounds with electronics has become a growing trope but the Beijing producer finds fresh new flavors throughout Lion Drum Sound. China's rich folk history is fully explored with samples mined across the country's numerous ethnic groups seamlessly fitting with beats that range from glitch hop to trap.
22. Jia Huizhen: 11
贾慧真: 11
(Z73 Studio)
Genre: Electro-pop
Buy/Stream: Bandcamp, Xiami, iTunes
Follow: Facebook, Soundcloud,
After years of unsucessfully putting together a band, the duo of Ningxia born singer Jia Huizhen and Beijing producer Yao Sichen have struck sonic gold by deciding to go it alone. Designed to incorporae abstract sounds within a context of a pop album, 11 benefits from its sparse set-up. Jia`s chamelonic voice shines, at times invoking the dramatics of Bjork and at others, the infectiousness of Robyn`s. The crackling synths and distorted drums only add to the emotion.
21. yourboyfriendsucks: episode 01
你男友係碌葛: 第一集
(Qiii Snacks)
Genre: Lo-fi Indie
Buy/Stream: Bandcamp, 163.com
Follow: Douban, Facebook
On episode 01, yourboyfriendsucks may be serving up "some retarded pop songs with too much reverb, silly lyrics in Chinese/English/German and don't know what to play here so I played some guitar noise." The lack of salesmanship is part of their charm - low-stakes lo-fi indie made out of love and boredom that perfectly capture its label Qiii Snacks (which rose from the ashes of the beloved Guangzhou DIY collective Full Label). And although yourboyfriendsucks may have called the quits, they had their moment in the spotlight thanks to album release shows across the country.
For the full 2016 Top 50 Albums List click here.
For more 2016 Year in Review coverage, click here.
0 User Comments