LISTEN: Guangzhou Underground Retrospective is Key Summer Listening

By Bryan Grogan, August 6, 2019

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In mid-July, one of our favorite Guangzhou-based Bandcamp labels, Guangzhou Underground, dropped a retrospective focusing on artists and producers who’ve previously released with them and we have to say that it’s prime listening for the summer months. 

Featuring contributions from artists based all over the South of China, including Y.E.N., DJ Tayta, Alex Agore, Rawdio, 3asic and Sinistarr, the release covers a bit of everything, with house, techno and bass contributions from this diverse cast of characters. 

In combination, however, the first half of the record leans towards a sound that replicates the yearning, tropical vibes of summer. For anyone who, like us, is stuck in the metropolis and dreaming of their next getaway to a warm island, the label’s sampler is key listening. 

After something of a hiatus, as label head Simon Bishop swapped the Chinese South for the trendier (and colder) climes of Bristol for studies before returning to Canton, Guangzhou Underground has gotten back into the swing of things, putting out a number of releases since the end of 2018, including Shenzhen-based DJ Tayta’s Shrine EP. 

While the music stems from a variety of regions around the globe, the Cantonese influence is certainly still on show, with artwork from locally-based illustrator Tony Cheung. Cheung is known for his graphic imagery, but in this case the art is more subdued than some of the Singularity Festival affiliate’s other pieces

The latter part of the record, including a 3asic remix of Alex Agore’s ‘Groovesick,’ as well as Sinistarr’s mix of Senonix track ‘HLX-1,’ are low down and dirty drum and bass at its finest, perfect for the evening hours, as the sun gives way to night. 

[Cover image via Guangzhou Underground/Bandcamp]

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