RADIO CHONGCHING radio chongching
		Format CD Country USA Recorded 1999 Issued 1999 Label First World Music Cat no. FWD 99.04 Playing time - Reviewer Trond Gjellum

Behind this Chinese name actually hides a fully-American band consisting of Chapman stick, drums/percussion and trumpet. The music is distinctly oriental, and it is impressive that they manage to produce this level of authentic folk instrumental sounds on instruments constructed for a more rock oriented type of music. The songs are quite simple and based on few tones and a lot of pauses, and gradually it assumes a rather meditative character. At length, the music can be experienced as somewhat lacking in variation, and more than once it tends to be dull. As a concept, the whole thing becomes quite restricted, and my opinion is that if this trio is to release further records, the amount of variation ought to be greater. This is in no way bad music, but it is that different to anything we have reviewed in Tarkus Magazine earlier, that it is definitely an advantage that you have an ear for music of the quiet and meditative type.

© 2001 Tarkus Magazine

Back to index