I really didn't know what to expect when I ordered this CD*. On one hand, I would really like to get to know more about the music of Shanghai in the 30s and 40s since it was very influential to Hong Kong pop music. But at the same time, I was afraid that this music was not quite as accessible to my ears as the more recent recordings.

After listening to the CD, all I can tell you is that I can't stop listening to it. While each song had been completely redefined by current technology, as Ian Widgery puts it, the core of each song remains the same. I was afraid that the computers and synthesizers involved in the production would overwhelm the original recordings. Instead, the original songs gained new life. Widgery wisely chose to work around the core melodies of each song instead of changing the structure of the original tune. Some of the songs on this album go back to the 30s, yet the stellar quality of the songwriting and vocal performances really shine through the pulsating beats and electronic soundscapes. The opening track, "Waiting 4 U" by Bai Kwong, sets the tone for the rest of the album, with the vocals sampled from the original recordings mixed in with the newly created rhythm tracks. The songs are interconnected so there is really no break from the music. Track 5, "All The Stars In The Sky" by Chang Loo will get the blood pumping with its rocking backbeat. Listeners should keep an open mind about the new reinterpretation of this music. This is not a butchering of the original songs, but is merely an updating of the musical ideas behind the music.

Of the 11 tracks, there is only one new original composition, and that is "Ye Shanghai 2003", named after the famous Chow Hsuan song that everyone knows at least a few notes of. This track is written by Ian Widgery and the soundscape he created really captures the imagery I have seen of modern Shanghai at night. I think that the Shanghai Tourism Board should adopt this song for a TV ad for the city. There is also a hidden track within track 11, a further remixing of 2 Bai Kwong songs. To me, the hidden track is nothing special compared to the rest of the album.

The album comes with a nicely produced booklet providing a brief biography of each singer and the impact they made on popular Chinese music, even up until today. After all, Chang Loo is Alex To's mother. Lyrics are provided in both Chinese and English.

This is one album that everyone can enjoy, especially for those who are into trance or chill-out music. I highly recommend it!

*This is a copy-controlled disc. Being copy-controlled, Sony and Philips, the co-inventers of the CD format, affirm that this is not a CD, at least according to their definition. There is no "Compact Disc" logo on either the packaging or the disc itself.

More:
Where to buy
Email Danny

Danny's Rating:
I highly recommend it!