Mp3 Monday: Random K(e)
By Morgan Short, Jun 15th, 2009 | In Nightlife
MP3 Monday is a weekly SmartShanghai column, serving up mp3s from bands living and making music in China (or coming to China, or thinking about coming to China, or whatever). Right click on the links and choose "Save Link As..." to download 'em. Click play to rock 'em.
This week we've got some slow burners from Beijing rock band Random K(e). These songs are from their debut CD "Waiting", which came out earlier this year.
A five-piece on Tag Team records, the genre that seems to get associated with Random K(e) the most is "post rock", because they chuck out that whole verse-chorus, verse-chorus, bridge, chorus, chorus thing in favor of more cinematic ebb and flow song developments. Sparse arrangements into quick climaxes -- surprise changes, but nothing too mathy. It strikes me as jam rock at its core -- there's some funkiness going on -- but it's been given the desolation treatment. They sample thunder storms. It seems they also share some kinship with Wang Wen, which is another one of China's more well-known and talented post rock bands.
Tag Team bands don't seem to come to Shanghai that much (also on that label is Arrows Made of Desire and Lonely China Day), and even though Random K(e) have been around for something like four years, I don't think they¡¯ve played in Shanghai before.
But they're playing this Friday at LOgO bar, along with Duck Fight Goose, which is a Miniless Records band featuring LOS vocalist and label impresario Hans.
Random K(e) - Speed Devil
Random K(e) - Of Your Own Device
You can get this record at the show, or order it over the internets at the Tag Team site (click here).
Tag Team also has a pretty good podcast on their site, although it looks like maybe they've gotten lazy about it...
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