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New Music from Faded Ghost, Foster Parents, Alpaca Plus Some Show Recommensations

A bit of a quieter one this weekend on Shanghai stages, but it looks like local musicians and producers have been using the time off wisely. Lots of new music out there available on the internets from...
Last updated: 2017-06-13

A bit of a quieter one this weekend on Shanghai stages, but it looks like local musicians and producers have been using the time off wisely. Lots of new music out there available on the internets from Shanghai-based artists. Hooray? Tune in and drop out, kids. We'll send a few new releases your way and then run-down a few live music suggestions for the weekend.

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New Music: Blippy Bloops

Faded Ghost's Moon Mad Is Out Now on SVBKVLT Celebrated at a well-attended release show at new club du jour ALL, Faded Ghost (AKA ChaCha) brought into this plane of existence her latest Moon Mad, an ambient piece of work, steeped in field recordings and macabre drone work -- some cult-damaged stuff fit for all y'all daughters of darkness. Here's a trailer video. VPNS ENGAGE. You can purchase the full album right here. Downstate Releases First Music Video This is the first music viddy from Shanghai-based UK tranplant Downstate, shot and edited himself using VHS camcorders apparently. Looks like he was out there, in Shanghai and "beyond", chasing down some UFOs or something. Getting some real '90s X-Files sorts of vibes from this one. Pretty neat effects. The truth is out there, Downstate. I want to believe. The glitchy, spectal stuttering track "Beyond '99" is available on his bandcamp right here. *

New Music: Rockin'

Foster Parents Get Grim Also celebrating their release last weekend, Shanghai-based math rock / post-rock act Foster Parents kicked out their latest record Grim. Swirling and meandering indie rock guitar, broken up with tight changes, crisp, rolling snare work, and tempo switcheroos. A really measured sort of release and really well-done sound quality wise. And taste-wise. Not without its culminations and moments of payoff. The CDs and cassettes are available wherever good Taobao CDs and tapes are sold. (On Taobao right here.) Here's the hit: This one's nice too. I like the vocal sample. Respect. Check the rest out on Foster Parents' bandcamp. *

New Music: Satan's Choice

Alpaca Release Demo Record All Will Fail One of Shanghai's most promising new heavy acts to emerge in the city in recent years, Alpaca has finally put it on wax with a four-song demo out now on their bandcamp page. Showcasing their bedrock influences in doom and NWOBHM filtered into various '90s-ish heavy sounds, the record is a fat and greasy four tracks of classic-leaning metal. Inferno-core metal at its most distilled. It's all there on All Will Fail. Dick swinging riffage. Sludgey breakdowns. A title track that has the word "motherfucker" in the chorus, right out of the gates. These are all good things. Bite it, you scum. Title track. Scorpion Prisoner 69 Has a New Single Out Shanghai's premier revenge rock group Scorpion Prisoner 69 is back again from their hole in the desert with a fiery single "Sasori I", which finally answers the age-old question: What happens when you make a blast beat punk song almost 6 minutes long? A: NOTHING BUT GOOD THINGS. This one speaks for itself. It's just one song but really is a meal unto itself. Sort of like if GG Allen was in Thin Lizzy or something. You can download it for name your price. Can't go wrong. Nice 4-hour sustained outro. Great cover art by Tony Cheung too. Scroll through their other singles at their bandcamp page. That's your next 5 hours sorted! ***

Weekend Shows from a Shanghai Stage to Your Face

Not too much on for this weekend but here's three that mighn't suck:
Sat, Jun 17, 2017

ALL: Caliph8

ALL welcomes back Caliph8 to Shanghai. Caliph8 has been a part of the experimental/electronic scene in Manila for many years, and in our opinion is one of the most talented and often over-looked artists in Asia. His MPC skills are unmatched and a spectacle to experience. In support we have a live set from Gooooose, plus DJ sets from Damacha, Downstate, Howell and Lon. 60rmb cover. Starts 10pm.

Talented MPC wizard from Manila returns to Shanghai to play ALL. If you like beats pounded out on a pad, this one's mandatory. Really.

Introduced to the world in 2011 after his debut album Last Smoke Before the Snowstorm, English singer-songwriter Benjamin Francis Leftwich has been called a mix of Elliot Smith and Chris Martin, and for good reason. Using material from his own life, Leftwich balances personal and intimate lyrics with beautifully crafted acoustic guitar work. Shanghai welcomes him in anticipation for the Concrete and Grass Festival. 150rmb at the door.

Split Works hosts in a UK singer-songwriter building anticipation for their upcoming Concrete & Grass festival in September. If you like "intimate lyrics with beautifully crafted acoustic guitar work" (READ: BEARDS) this one's mandatory.

Everything heavy on stage at Inferno. Hard rock to progressive to thrash from two Shanghai bands and one in from Japan. Thy Blood and Solid Al Solid Al join Japanese hard rock and metalcore act Firehead. Expect a high adrenaline show. No entry fee. Starts 9pm.

The obligatory weekend metal show at Inferno. IF YOU LIKE HOWLING AT THE MOON THIS ONE'S MANDATORY.

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