Base notes: Coffee bean, scallion oil, corroded battery, mildew, air conditioning condensation, ambition, quiet desperation
This was a blind buy for me, just based on the bottle. Wow. It opens with a blast of humid metallic aldehydes followed by an almost photorealistic rendering of a construction worker smoking a Double Happiness cigarette next to a fresh excavated hole. Within twenty minutes, the composition settles into something truly extraordinary: warm osmanthus, expensive leather, corroded lithium, and the unmistakeable musk of a man in a suitjacket riding an electric bicycle stacked seven meters high with Styrofoam, and his girl riding next to him in heels.
The drydown is where Shanghai becomes a masterpiece. A haunting, sexy combination of old money, new money, no money, and a woman in a Chanel suit screaming into her phone outside a Family Mart.
Performance is nuclear. Projects across four metro cars. Certain notes disappear overnight without explanation and are replaced by shopping malls.
Is it mass appealing? Certainly not. I love it like riding an empty bus 71 in the rain, but my cousin said it smells like a hospital having sex with a nightclub. Some French dude in the park told me the vintage bottles are better.
Sillage: 10/10. You will smell it before you see it.
Versatility: Surprisingly strong. Suitable for business meetings, underground raves, divorce proceedings, and eating noodles drunk and alone at 4am.
Compliment factor: Zero compliments, but a street cat followed me for twenty minutes.
Final verdict: An uncompromising, deeply polarizing masterpiece. Simultaneously futuristic and vintage. I tried throwing it away three times, and each time, I walked down six flights to retrieve it from the garbage bin.
Already ordered another bottle.
This is our weekly, human-curated shortlist of what's on in Shanghai this weekend. As always, hit upsmartshanghai.com/events/nightlife for much more. Listing events is free - hit us up if you've got something planned.
Community radio station par excellence byyb are collaborating with Barcelona based art collective, NAKED SPACE on this interactive installation on the West Bund. Basically this is a giant bed where everyone can lay down and listen to a DJ who plays in the centre. They've booked six DJs to play from 4-5pm each day, and they'll have pre-recorded mixes for the rest of the time. Very cool, and free. The sets will also be streamed live at byyb.radio - More info about all this on byyb's website: https://byyb.live/blogs/inner-circle-six-afternoons-of-listening-with-naked-space-at-design-delight
Sam Tbd brings a deep, early night house and techno situation to this club in Green Station, with liberal use of smoke machines and a midnight end. "Dance to the end and be in bed by one". The Nov 11 edition has Shanghai-based producer Knopha, and the 25th is Sam Tbd in solo mode. This one is turning into a great midweek party.
Jungle/DNB/dancehall/reggae/dub crew Ruff & Tuff has their "Return to Jungle" night down in this eternal dive bar on Friday, with Jado Deejay and Aho Selector bringing the sounds. Just some real Shanghai OGs doin their thang in this real OG bar.
ALTER. is back, this time joining forces with NoName Studio and Social Supply to throw an art week afterparty inside a former oil depot. Now reimagined as a contemporary art centre, TANK Shanghai's massive cylindrical tanks have been repurposed as gallery halls. That's where their party's at on Friday, with music by DJs Zhuo, Yang Bing, and Feiyi.
Shanghai-based crew 4GABBERZ and 2004 present a party called Hardcore Hell at this cybergoth looking club in C-Park. Expect gabber, happy hardcore, and high bpms. Should be a great one for fans of this sound, with headliners 4D and 2004 playing vinyl sets and support from DEP, DJ CHR, and DESTROZOZ6Y.
Scottish producer and DJ Howie B is a pioneer of left-field electronic music, known for his work with Björk, U2, and Tricky. Expect trip-hop, dub, ambient, and experimental beats spanning decades at this C-Park palace of chillness.
Berlin-via-Mexico DJ and producer Lokier brings her dark, hypnotic mix of EBM, industrial techno, electro, and post-punk influences to this club on Huaihai Lu on Friday the 13th. Support from Jula Issa, Goga, Gerger, and sugah riri.
This big, one-day natural wine festival is back at the 6F of K11, in the parking garage and on the roof. It’s a whole evening of free-flow wine tasting (from 5-10pm), DJs and live performers (from 5pm-2am), games, activities, and foods by a well-curated selection of restaurants serving pizza, sandwiches, gelato, and more (from start till close).
R&B/hip hop/Afrobeats party Sugar House celebrates eight years in the game, with Chengdu-based producer Harikiri headlining the night and a big lineup across two rooms, including Amapiano producer Tiehan, Wes Chen, and more and a bass music situation with Kin. J, Popasuda, and Siesta upstairs. This party is a collaboration with streaming platform Keep Hush.
Long-running party Discosmic Adventure started back in 2012 and they're back after a long break. For this time, they're at the cool lil DIY cave Cedar Land in C-Park. They're spinning "everything from golden-era Mandopop and lush Cantopop to nostalgic City Pop and deep-fried Southeast Asian dancefloor rarities. Leave the map behind, lose yourself in the beat!" Ride on.
One of the chillest neighborhood cafes in town, Reso, is hosting listening sessions on their impressive soundsystem every Sunday for the next couple weeks. “Experience vinyl music over Altec A7.”, they say. Expect an eclectic selection of records, good vibes, and possibly some random animals hangin' out (there was a goose there recently). It’s pet friendly, the coffee is great, and they’ll have some wine too. Free entry.
