Dangerous World
Khalil Fong
Powered by thumping beats and a rhythmic groove, singer-songwriter Khalil Fong delivers once again on his eighth album. The Hong Kong-based musician has always created a melting pot of sounds by dipping into genres as diverse as soul, R&B, jazz, pop, rock and funk on fine records such as Back To Wonderland (2012) and 15 (2011).
On this first album with his new label Gold Typhoon Music, he is again fired up with the possibilities of musical cross-pollination.
Lush orchestral strings bloom at the start of the title track, which then morphs into an irresistible dance track.
Making your way across it is risky business but it is also an opportunity to show how much you care: “Don’t need you to look left, don’t need you to look right/Doesn’t matter how dangerous the world is in front of you/There’s me by your side.”
Meanwhile, danger lurks. It is there in the hypnotic Vampires and in love getting swamped by busy life in Can’t Love, a duet with rapper Miss Ko.
Elsewhere, there is retro pop on Luck With The Ladies, smooth R&B on Mr Weather and even hip-hop on Peace.
The diversity extends to the use of language as well. He sings and swings in English on Lights Up and raps in Mandarin on Little Fong, an autobiographical track suffused with gratitude.
This is a rich and rewarding album that somehow seems to have slipped under the radar somewhat. It is not too late to check it out, though.
It might be a dangerous world, but Fong will make you want to dance as you take it on. On the disco-tinged Lights Out, he promises: “I got what you want/I got what you need/Just come out and see my world.”
(ST)