Notable Albums, 2013

By James Tiscione, Andrew Chin and Alex Taggart

Loved by some, but missed by many - here's a list of our favorite Mainland albums from 2013, in no particular order or from any one city that are great tunes to groove. This is not a Best Of list but feel free to send all complaints to arts@urbanatomy.com or better yet, comment below about what albums you think should be getting more love.

Tengger Cavalry: Black Steed (China Youth)

Young, hungry and already getting distribution abroad, this quartet has put themselves at the tip of industry tongue-waggers as China’s next big thing. The band, which features students from Minzhu University of China majoring in dombra shredding and the Mongolian horsehead fiddle, mixes world music with thrash metal for a world hungry for something local. Though their latest release runs short (34 mins) and often lacks in continuity, this album promises good things not only from the band, but also for the genre’s potential worldwide. JT

Tengger Cavalry Douban page: site.douban.com/tenggercavalry/
Buy the album: Taobao

WordySoulspeak: Let the Rhythm Hit (BBE Records)

Three-time DMC China champion DJ Wordy and Los Angeles producer Soulspeak have crafted a unique sound that has garnered high profile fans like RZA, Diplo, Pete Rock and Adidas. Based in Beijing, their first album for international label BBE sees the duo come up with a straight dancefloor pleaser that echo influences ranging from jazzy hip-hop (‘Smokeout’) to 80s electro (‘Let Me Ride’) to bass (‘No Escape’). AC

Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/wordysoulspeak/
Buy the album: www.bbemusic.com/releases/

P.K. 14: 1984 (Maybe Mars)

Five years in the making, this long-awaited LP sees Beijing’s foremost shivering post-punks once again call upon the production sheen of Swedes Henrik Oja and Mats Hammarström, which although at times betrays the band’s roughly-hewn roots, does provide a certain finesse. The power of this recording will further solidify frontman Yang Haisong’s place as a Chinese indie patriarch who – between juggling side projects and producing younger bands – continues to inspire his future indie rock minions. JT

Douban: site.douban.com/pk14/
Buy the album: downloads.maybemars.org/album/1984

Top Floor Circus: Money Ruins A Relationship (Yet A Relationship Ruins Money and the Relationship) (Mule Records)

In a dozen years, this Shanghai quintet has grown from the underwear-adorned jesters of Chinese rock to being one of its best acts. On their sprawling double album, the sarcastic wit remains, but the focus is on matters of the heart. Over an indie-pop backdrop, charismatic frontman Lu Chen and new member Fan Fan duet – and you don’t need to understand Shanghainese to hear the chemistry between the two. AC

Douban: site.douban.com/topfloorcircus/
Buy the album: Taobao

Second Hand Rose, Stealing the Show (Modern Sky)

Both genre- and gender-bending, this eclectic Sino-rock mash up has pulled a lot of firsts for Beijing rock, all completely DIY. The record, which still heavily soaked in Er Ren Zhuan and other folk idiom, is also a departure of sorts; such as the twisted gang-vocal rhapsody ‘Chuang Men’. More importantly, the album also marks their signing to indie powerhouse Modern Sky and the platform for their first-ever show at Worker’s Gymnasium, monumental considering how they started deep in the Beijing underground, wearing dresses. JT

Douban: site.douban.com/ershoumeigui/
Buy the album: Bandcamp

Song Donye: Anhe Bridge North (Modern Sky)

With lilting folk tunes sung in a panda bear baritone, this 26-year-old bard’s second album (named after the Haidian District area) has captured the heart of China’s wenqing, or “artistic young” – a demographic of sensitive, aspiring artist-types – minus the talent. Song, however, exhibits the type of strong songwriting that looks set to lead Beijing’s budding university folk revival. What’s more significant is how this record blew up thanks to China’s talent shows. Song was catapulted to stardom overnight after the album’s single, ‘Dong Xiaojie’, was sung by a contestant on Super Boy. A genuine case of overnight fame? Most likely well-placed product, as everything on TV talent shows, from contestant slots to choice of song, is up for sale. JT

Douban page: site.douban.com/donye/
Buy the album: Modern Sky

Various: Shanshui 10th Anniversary Compilation (Shanshui Records)

A massive 40-track release spanning almost as many genres and featuring just about every electronic producer with any connection to China, there could be no better way to celebrate a decade of Shanshui Records, arguably the most important record label in the history of Chinese electronic music. Highlights include Shanshui head honcho Sulumi’s tweaked-out electro banger ‘Multi-faceted’, Beijing hip-hop originator DJ Wordy’s buzzy dubstep number ‘Monkey Step’, and ‘A Thinner Shade of Green’, a moody downtempo tune from Shanghai techno hero B6. AT

Douban: site.douban.com/shanshui/
Buy the album: Can buy off Douban but requires having an account. Feel free to add alternative links to the Comments section.

Residence A, The Love of This Era (Beautiful World)

They're the type of band that can make you feel young just watching them. A rock and roll pick-me-up, driven almost entirely by their dynamic lead singer Zhao Zhao (who incidentally got his pipes singing traditional northeastern Er Ren Zhuan opera) the album is not only powered by a strong danceable title track, but the band has thankfully re-recorded and included their trademark rock anthem 'Song Chun'. For those that don't know the band, let this be the first album you hear. JT

Douban: site.douban.com/agg/
Buy the album: Taobao

Skip Skip Ben Ben, Sacrifice Mountain Hills (Maybe Mars)

On their sophomore album, this Beijing-based trio takes a huge leap. While their debut was a bit coy with beautiful shards of sound hidden within a haze, this record is straight ahead. The base is still shoegaze but there are grunge overtones that showcase a band more at ease with their natural hooks. Inspired by her short stint playing drums for Car Sick Cars, group frontwoman/guitarist Ben Ben has crafted a rock record that would sound great live. No surprise that My Bloody Valentine tapped them to open for them during their Taipei show. AC

Douban: site.douban.com/skipskipbenben/
Buy the album: Bandcamp

J-Fever: Wanderers (Self-released)

Those known to flow know J-Fever. Since 2007, the reigning freestyle champ has managed to garner the attention of advertisers (Nike), moviemakers (soundtrack for Tai Chi 1) and news crews (the BBC). Though it’s stil hard to say what makes up the “Beijing sound” beyond dialect, the now 28-year-old Beijinger has made a name for himself producing jazz-infused hip hop, worshipping The Roots and reflecting a similar level of sophistication. J-Fever’s quirty narration sounds at home over uncluttered production that features familiar sax samples (title track) and exotic Chinese instruments – as on ‘The Art of Hip-Hop’. Lyrically Wanderers leans less on disses and wordplay, and impresses with playful storytelling with rhythms that please even if you don’t understand the words. Peace out. JT

Douban: site.douban.com/jfever/ (Can stream a couple of tracks)
Buy the album: Can buy off Douban but requires having an account. Feel free to add alternative links to the Comments section.

The Swamp: Yond (Soundray)

While post-rock properly gripped the capital earlier this year, no band exhibited more clarity in message than this Guangzhou-based quartet and their seventh record. Notably, the prominent use of the Chinese zither, or guqin, that provides enough dim light to navigate the sprawling mundane of post rock’s tension and release song form. Most importantly, in their journey from early 90’s snivel indie to thoughtful art rock, The Swamp is achieving what many others fail to do – progress. JT

Douban: site.douban.com/zhaoze/
Buy the album: Taobao

FeiMa: Half City (Self-released)

The album cover depicts an explosion, and across seven tracks this Shanghai trio deliver the musical equivalent. It’s a stew of jagged riffs, frantic drumming, buried samples and plenty of hooks. The growth is impressive as the band started in 2012 playing Car Sick Cars covers to contributing to China’s growing post-punk canon. Sadly, the album served as both hello and goodbye as singer/guitarist Bellows Wang shortly moved to the Netherlands after the EP’s summer release for school. AC

Douban: site.douban.com/feima/
Buy the album: Bandcamp

Perpetual Motion Machine, Imperial City Diary (Self-released)

Amazingly, this rock trio remain unsigned despite putting out one of the best indie records in recent memory. The strongest track, 'Jingshandong Jie' (as in Jingshan Park) is a perfect example of the band's intelligent riff rock - a kaleidoscopic tumbler of pentatonic themes, timbre and vocal lines that manage to breathe. Powered by backbeat, running basslines and sing-song images of Beijing, their convulutions are never forced, remain fresh and soon should gracefully boom. JT

Douban: site.douban.com/bj/
Buy the album: Taobao

Dou Wei, Mantra for Departed Souls (Jiuzhou)