Gig Recap 现场回顾: Jimaoxin鸡毛信, Dizang地藏, Khunathi丘瑙底河 (2021.1.20)

Gig Recap 现场回顾

Jimaoxin 鸡毛信, Dizang 地藏, Khunathi 丘瑙底河 

- Yuyintang

2021.01.20

Minds were indeed blown last Thursday night at Yuyintang as LiveChinaMusic hosted three ‘out there’ bands with a penchant for musical exploration. Psychedelic, art rock, prog rock - however you want to slice it these bands came ready to ravage audiences and they did not disappoint. 

The evening kicked off with the always delightful Khunathi - once again charging headfirst into their sprawling layered tunes - which build and build and build eventually bursting into fits of ecstasy. 

It’s fun, heavy, and love some of the effects they use on their instruments - giving their rip-roaring topsy-turvy sound an old school Chinese edge that could’ve come straight out of an 80s Hong Kong flick. 

Dizang is always in the process of scratching their musical curiosities - evolving and reconfiguring their lush sonic world as they see fit. 2021 saw them run amuck in Shanghai’s electronic scene, using those limitations to explore to dimensions. 

Now it seems as though the band is going in the opposite direction, expanding upon their sound in ways that brings the band closer to that of Sigur Ros and Wang Wen, adding an array of musicians to the stage (tight squeeze) and delivering one of the most memorable songs I’ve heard in quite some time. 

I’ve been pretty giddy to see Jimaoxin - as they were one of the few bands last year to complete blindside me. And while a part of me was wondered the magic wouldn’t be there on my second rendevous with them, these fears were quickly put aside as they kicked into ‘Feel So Right’. 

Love the way every musician seems to be on their own wavelength till they’re not; love the playful slightly deranged interactions between its members; love the melodic intonations that wiggle their way into your eardrums; love the almost tribalistic rhythmic pull of the band - it's the kind of music of bonfires in the middle of the jungle are made for. It’s primal and loads of fun. So yeah, Jimaoxin is a band to be reckoned with 2022. Be ready China. 

Thanks again to the bands, to Yuyintang, and to everyone who came out to see if the headless man could blow your mind? 

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Words: Will Griffith

Photos: Will Griffith

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