Own Room
Chou Hui

Ten Notes Left For Happiness
Ocean Ou

Both these Taiwanese singers were represented by cartoon characters when they first came on the scene. But while British band Gorillaz, whose members were illustrated by artist Jamie Hewlett, were a fully thought-out musical and visual project, these singers were hidden away under illustrations because they were deemed not photogenic enough.
There was no question, though, that they had distinctive voices.
Chou Hui’s crisp vocals were compared to Mandopop queen Faye Wong’s, and she even sang a Mandarin cover of the latter’s 1997 Cantonese track Promise. Her voice is showcased here on ballads such as I Am Not Your Only One and the evocative A Certain Part Of The Story.
The purity of her pipes illuminates a song and allows the emotional clarity to shine through. The effect is irresistible on Story, when paired with lyrics by frequent Jay Chou-collaborator Vincent Fang: “Hence, after our hearts were broken, we grew older/Hence, scenes from the past flicker in the waning light/Hence we lightly place love in our palms, huddling close to each other for warmth.”
The more upbeat track Ice Cube shows a perkier side of Chou as she croons: “The love you give me is so warm, I’m like a glacier drifting into a sea of love.”
Ocean Ou’s offering is a little less satisfying. It sounds rather dated, harking back to the stylings of his 2004 hit Lonely Northern Hemisphere.
The singer-songwriter’s fuss-free folksy style is at its best in Definitely Definitely: “Definitely, definitely, loving you/As the sun rises and sets, without end/Definitely, definitely, want you to be happy every day.”
The sentiment might be simple, but Ou’s rendition makes it gently affecting.
(ST)