One Two Free
One Two Free
Sigma
Sigma
Hello
Lara Veronin
A new year brings new hopes, new possibilities and the promise of new and exciting music. Here are three newcomers to usher it in.
Taiwanese rap duo One Two Free, comprising A-da and Born Lee, kick off 2011 with some irreverent fun.
They embrace being overweight on Fatties: “We are fatties, always have been/We are fatties, with boobs and big bellies”, and recall what it was like to be in big trouble as a kid in Screwed: “Oh my God, that vase shattered so thoroughly, this is the worst situation I’ve ever been in”. The joyous blast of brass that follows the line “This time I’m really screwed” has got to make you smile.
But the humour is also laced with anger on Huanying Guanglin (Welcome), that ubiquitous welcome greeting in Taiwan shops.
They rant: “Hate to see race cars, hate a tai-tai’s glance/Hate to hear the rich bitch that they’re unhappy.” It all comes pouring out in the chorus: “So why don’t you go to hell and stop spouting rubbish/As if the whole world cares what you think.”
Still, the effect is more rib-tickling than incendiary, especially when you watch the music video which is chock-a-block with cameos, including from Van Ness Wu, sodagreen’s A-fu, Rachel Liang and even Eason Chan.
In keeping with the playful spirit of the album, the duo have also included paper cut-out dolls of themselves, complete with outfit changes such as a schoolgirl uniform.
Care has also gone into the packaging of dance trio Sigma’s disc, which comes in a sleek round tin.
The members are One Million Star alumni Judy Chou and Jett Lee as well as Taipei National University of the Arts graduate Tommy Lin.
Dance Or Die gets the message straight across: “Dance, let me dance, high till I’m completely crazed, don’t ask me what move it is now”; while on Post-boyfriend and The World Is Such A Mess, they profess that they want to be by your side.
They seem to be reading the Korean boyband manual and even worked with Korean choreographer Choi Ki Seok for the music video for the titular track Sigma.
Dance moves – check. Packaging – check. Ridiculously catchy dance hits – needs more work.
Offering a completely different listening experience is Hello, the debut solo album from Lara, a former member of Taiwanese pop collective Nan Quan Mama member Lara. Instead of slick electronic dance-pop, she gives us easy breezy folk-pop.
Lara, whom you might remember from the Coral Sea duet she did with Jay Chou, did not get me at Hello, though. It is the first word sung here and it sounded so cutesy and twee, it took some effort to continue listening to the song Everything.
Thankfully, the singer-songwriter sounds less cloying elsewhere on the album and tracks such as Pepper And Salt endear with a homespun vibe.
There is also honesty and vulnerability here and she mourns on Little Tree: “We are like that tree/Wilting without warning/Just because we try hard doesn’t mean happiness awaits.”
All in all, it looks like the year is off to a good start.
(ST)