New Music: Synthetic China Vol. 1, Ran Groove Vol. 7, Street Voice Landing Compilation Vol. 1

Various Artists – Synthetic China Vol 1 合成中国

D-Force Records returns with their latest compilation – Synthetic China Volume 01 – a vinyl compilation collecting eleven Chinese electronic music producers (including Shao, Ambient Intelligence, L+R, Yan Jun, AYRTBH, and more) with a focus explicitly on the concept and practice of “synthesis.” Compiled by Han Han (of Gooooose and Duck Fight Goose) it’s finely curated offering of the electronic scene’s more off-center sounds and producers with a knack for utilising synthesizers in varying and often invigorating ways – ‘from hard, danceable beats to faint atmospherics, from deep uneasiness to heartwarming melodies’.  

Bandcamp: https://dforcerecords.bandcamp.com/album/synthetic-china-vol-1

Xiami: https://www.xiami.com/album/2103942780

Various Artists – Ran Groove Vol. 7

Ran Music’s signature series – Ran Groove – which has for years tapped into China’s budding underground electronic dance scene – returns with it’s seventh edition. Their largest offering yet, the thirteen track release covers a heck ton of ground – from seasoned Ran Music regulars such as Hielektromen to Another Van (who also acts as the album’s curator) to newer inductees like J.R.G and the luscious Laughing Ears, to a crop of producers making their first splash including Chen Ku from Xiamen, Hesiod Leo from Dalian, and LD_ning from Ningbo. From progressive house to acid bass, to the psychedelic vibes of the West Coast to the minimalist aesthetics of Berlin – there’s plenty here to kick start your Friday night. 

Netease: https://music.163.com/#/album?id=72794877

QQ: https://y.qq.com/n/yqq/album/0009ELiR1mA1RJ.html

Various Artists – Street Voice Landing Compilation Vol. 1

Street Voice, one of the leading indie music labels, with a strong foothold in both Taiwan and China, sign a spotlight on the budding voices coming out in the indie music scene. With an emphasis on musicians born after 1990, the thirteen track release is most striking in its geographical (and therein cultural) diversity – drawing talents from Taipei, Taiwan, Xinxiang, Henan, Ningbo, Zhejiang, Liuzhou, Guangxi, and Hohhot to create a rich collage of music’s that’s trenching and bands on the brink of breakout success as the decade draws to a close. Standout tracks include Inner Mongolia’s DaWanYiEr, CoffeLee from Kunming, and ZC木蘭 from Zhuhai. 

Xiami:  https://www.xiami.com/album/yhTzT6db1d4

Netease: https://music.163.com/#/playlist?id=2413952798