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.
20. Future Orients: Eat or Die
弗特拉·奥伦茨: 要么吃，要么死
(Maybe Mars)
Genre: Indie
Buy/Stream: Bandcamp, Xiami, Taobao,
Follow: Douban, Facebook
Known for cultivating their vision of thoughtful Chinese indie art-rock thanks to their original acts like Carsick Cars and Snapline, Maybe Mars continues to evolve with their next generation of acts. Staples in Beijing's live scene, Future Orients (formerly known as The Eat) impresses on their debut. Produced by P.K.14 frontman Yang Haisong, the quartet suceeds in adding an icy quality to the label's post-punk template echoing influences like Foals, Radiohead and Neu!
19. The Big Wave: s/t
大波浪: 大波浪
(Modern Sky)
Genre: Indie
Buy/Stream: 163.com, Modern Sky, iTunes
Follow: Douban
It may have taken a little longer than expected, but the Beijing synth-pop trio have finally unleashed their full-length debut. With the backing of China's largest indie label, Modern Sky, The Big Wave lives up to their immense early hype with a self-assured disc that pays tribute to forebearers like New Order and Depeche Mode without sounding overly retro. Early viral hits like 'Fill In' and 'Modern' are included but their new mix showcases a group that's grown from its 2015 national tour.
18. Li Xiaochuan: Initial
李晓川: 最初
(JZ Music/Sony)
Genre: Jazz
Buy/Stream: QQ Music, 163.com
The Shanghai based trumpeter caps off a stellar 2016 that included live collaborations with Grammy Award winners Gast Waltzing and Randy Brecker with his sophomore disc. While his 2014 debut, The New Age was full of futuristic experiments, Initial shines with its classicism. The JZ Club staple taps into his experience as a touring musician while paying tribute to his childhood musical idols on the disc that incorporates elemens like rock, hip hop and traditional Chinese music. Released last month, it's the first in JZ Music's Chinese Jazz Power Trilogy - albums from the nation's leading jazz talent to be released on Sony China.
17. Kafe.Hu: 27: The Code of Lucifer
Kafe.Hu: 27: 路西法密码
(self-released)
Genre: Hip Hop
Buy/Stream: Xiami, 163.com, Taobao, iTunes
Follow: Douban, Facebook
Chengdu's music scene has been buzzing in recent years and the abstract emcee is poised to join Hiperson and Stolen as among the city's most popular exports. After steady mixtape releases, Kafe Hu has finally unleashed his proper full-length debut. Recorded over the past three years, 27: The Code of Lucifer finds the rhymer linking with notable producers like Soulspeak while expanding his jazz-based sound to new avant-garde parameters.
16. Swimful: PM2.5
(SVBKVLT)
Genre: Electronic
Buy/Stream: Bandcamp, iTunes
Follow: Facebook
After presenting Damacha’s TuHaoJin opus last year, SVBKVLT links up with another Shanghai fixture. Approved by the Based God, Lil B, and hip streetwear company/indie label Mishka, the ultra-mysterious producer's EP lives up to its nasty name adding club and grime influences (check the remix of Wiley's 'Shanghai') to Swimful's trademark dreamy ambient sound.
15. DOC: Northern Electric Shadow
DOC: 北方电影
(D Force)
Genre: Post-rock
Buy/Stream: Bandcamp, Xiami, QQ Music, 163.com, iTunes
Follow: Douban
Rising out of the ashes of Dalian indie noise rockers Doc Talk Shock, Dalian Obscure Club showcases a band that's a bit maturer while remaining as in love with the music as their younger days. While the band has quietly been convening in their coastal hometown, they've linked with D Force Records for their debut as DOC. Northern Electric Shadow boasts a more stately sound with new influences ranging from post-rock to cinematic scores.
14. Streets Kill Strange Animals: McD's Kids
街道杀死奇怪的动物: 【合并】麦当劳少年
(Modern Sky)
Genre: Indie
Buy/Stream: Modern Sky, 163.com, iTunes
Follow: Douban
Inspired by the rise of fellow Nanjingers P.K. 14, Leng Mei has made his own mark on China’s indie scene leading the noise-rock trio Streets Kill Strange Animals. They finally follow up 2012’s Plan B: Back to the Analog Era with McD's Kids, which Leng says is “based around the dreams of China’s young and the growing gap between the rich and everyone else.” The heavy subject matter is backed with the group at its most ferocious, channeling the urgency of inspirations like Sonic Youth, Big Black and Fugazi.
13. SMZB: The Chinese Are Coming
生命之饼: 中国人来了
(Maybe Mars)
Genre: Punk
Buy/Stream: Bandcamp, Taobao
Follow: Douban, Facebook
Despite numerous obstacles, the Wuhan punkfathers have made it to their 20th anniversary and are showing no signs of slowing down. The Chinese Are Coming is trademark SMZB - a fiery mix of bagpipes, Celtic punk and outspoken socially conscious lyrics. The accompany national tour was another celebratory romp through the country for the group that remains one of the best punk bands in the world.
12. Guzz: An Elephant in the Jungle
Guzz: 林中之象
(Do Hits)
Genre: Electronic
Buy/Stream: Bandcamp, Xiami, 163.com, iTunes
Follow: Douban
The co-founder of the Beijing based Do Hits! collective pays tribute to his Hainan hometown on his full-length debut. Guzz experiments with new takes on his love for traditional Asian music throughout An Elephant in the Jungle mixing Southeast Asian samples with exotic beats for a tropical take on his crew's "future music from China."
11. Black Kirin: National Trauma
黑麒: 哀郢
(Pest Productions)
Genre: Metal
Buy/Stream: Bandcamp, Xiami, QQ Music, iTunes
Follow: Douban, Facebook
Symphonic folk metal meets Chinese opera in the ambitious full-length debut from the Changchun based group that is available in English and Chinese language versions. The group channels the spirit of Mei Lanfang bringing the high pitched dan-style vocals that the Peking opera legend pioneered to a thunderous mix of death metal that spans thundrous riffs to foreboding atmospherics. Nanchang label Pest Productions show no signs of loosening their grip to China’s leading purveyor of artistic metal, as it enters its second decade.
For the full 2016 Top 50 Albums List click here.
For more 2016 Year in Review coverage, click here.
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