New Releases: Howie Lee, Serbey Gubka, banana, Shao

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As the year closes out it’s time to shed some light on some of the electronica emerging from China this year — it’s been a hell of a year for the electronic scene; some stellar releases (more than a view will be making the year end roundup) with the scene finding solider ground to work on. Here’s some new releases showing the diverse playground electronica has to work in including the latest from Howie Lee, Serbey Gubka, banana, and Shao.

One China’s most fascinating producers, Howie Lee, a staple of the scene, whose intoxicating mix of traditional Chinese instruments among synths, 808s, and other samples of trap music, makes his biggest mark yet with his debut Mù Chè Shān Chū, off now on LA-based label Alpha Pop. A striking, vibrant harmonious marriage of styles, there really is nothing like Howie Lee’s sound. From the blissful synth heavy opening of ‘The Gate’ to the dyslexic sonic bass kick of ‘Sinka’, back again to the sugar-coated video-game-esque score of ‘Beihai’ – one thing is for sure – this is its own beast. And while the Far East elements sometimes threaten to overwhelm and submerge the album, it’s just so god damn alluringly offbeat. Join the fun over at Howie Lee’s bandcamp.

Veteran Shanghai electronic artist Clement, of Acid Pony Club, Friction Pony, and more returns with his second solo outing as Serbey Gubka. Entitled Lost Wars, the 6-track cassette off of UK-based label The Association for Depth Sound Recordings, is a collection of ‘ominous electronica and precise breakbeat, interspersed with moments of analogue ambient respite’. My electronica lingo ain’t up to snuff but my ears were highly pleased. Complex yet sparse and subtle arrangements which surprise at every turn. The cassette includes a remix of Beijing artist thruoutin’s ‘Qiguai de difang’ – a favorite from earlier this year. Spin it over at bandcamp.

So I’ve had a couple folks rave about all the madness that is vaporwave –  a genre that has emerged in the past five years which takes retro cultural aesthetics (commercial, lunge music, and other popular culture samples from the past forty years) and alters, layers, or pitchs them in classic chopped and screwed style (alright, Wikipedia lesson over). My take – basically David Lynch crossed with Paul Verhoeven. Well, vaporwave is starting to make its way into China, so for all you junkies out there here’s two fresh releases from Guanghzhou artist banana. Well there’s something utterly fascinating about the genre and hearing old Chinese samples spit back at us, Toxic Avenger style, I really can’t comment on the lasting appeal of it. Strangely frighteningly comforting though. Dig in the past on 21 and asdfghjkl:“ on bandcamp.

Look no further for the club track of the year. Beijing based electronic artist Shao (formerly Dead J) turns apart the competition with just nine minutes on his new EP, Doppler Shift Pt. 1, released on Berlin’s legendary Trescor Records. Minimalistic techno with a pitch-black heart that oozes with danger, this is the kind of music that one could imagine would pack a dingy concrete warehouse with hordes of sweaty wide-eyed fiends. Cinematic and menacing, and never afraid to rack up the tension, it’s an explosive European debut for the veteran artist. Let loose over on Trescor Records’s bandcamp, where you can still snag a copy in vinyl.

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