MP3 Monday: PK14
By Morgan Short, Sep 8th, 2008 | In Nightlife
MP3 Monday is a new weekly SmartShanghai column, serving up mp3s from bands living and making music in China. Right click on the links and choose "Save As..." to download them and check out how to purchase the CDs at the bottom.
This week's em pea sans are from Beijing post-punk fantastique P.K.14. It's a very "timely" MP3 Monday today, because the band is playing a show this Saturday at the Zhijiang Dream Factory. Finger on the pulse. They're here touring their fourth album, Chengshi Tianqi De Hangxing (City Weather Sailing), which was recorded in Sweden earlier this year.
They just finished some kind of Converse-sponsored tour as well, that had them and Queen Sea Big Shark well shod and touring a bunch of cities (but not Shanghai, snuh?) on a tour bus. Having the bands on the tour bus is something of a novelty because bands in China take the train when traveling on tour -- it more reliable, cheaper than renting or buying a van, and they don't have amps to worry about. You can read a blog about that tour here (linked from the concert promoters Split Works' website, China Music Radar).
So the first MP3 -- showcasing some orchestral instrumentation -- is from their latest record, Chengshi Tianqi De Hangxing (City Weather Sailing), and the second one is from their lovely 2004 album Shei Shei Shei He Shei Shei Shei (Whoever, Whoever, Whoever). Although I wouldn't want to take away from what the band is doing by making tenuous comparisons, I would say that if you like doomy, gloomy Disintegration Cure and/or Fugazi these will be up your alley as well.
P.K.14 ¨C Yu xie yi waif a sheng di tai zao (Some Accidents Happen To Early)
P.K.14 - Zao mian ye (Dry Dormancy Night)
Don't miss them on Saturday. You can pick up the new album then. They've also got a DVD documentary about one of their earlier China tours. Its really good, and you should keep an eye out of that as well. Check out their MySpace page here. And you can read an older interview with the band here. Head over to their record label's homepage, Maybe Mars here.
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