Best Mandarin albums of 2015
Amit2
By A-mei/Mei Entertainment
On her second record under the moniker of Amit, Taiwanese diva A-mei gets darker with songs such as Freak Show and Matriarchy.
She flirts with reggae and electronica on Jamaican Betel Nut and bristles with disdain on What D’ya Want?. Through them all, her pop instinct remains unerringly spot-on.
A Bloody Love Song makes you want to embark on a grand gothic romance simply because you have found the perfect soundtrack for it.

Aphasia
By Tanya Chua/Asia Muse Entertainment
Who knew that Tanya Chua and electronica would go so well together?
The Singapore singer-songwriter takes a gamble on her 10th Mandarin album by venturing into a new genre with long-time lyrics partner Xiaohan.
The result is Tanya as you have never seen or heard before. The term aphasia might refer to a speech disorder, but she is far from tongue-tied in this game-changing album.

Why? Art
By Yen-j/B’in Music International
Taiwanese singer-songwriter Yen-j draws on jazz, electronica and rap on this album. He also taps into a whole gamut of moods, from anger to playfulness to wistfulness.
The title track Ashtray is pulsing with energy and wordplay, while Traveller is languorously beguiling. This is artful pop music.

Worst
Because There’s You
By Ocean Ou/ Ocean Entertainment
Somebody has to tell Taiwanese singer-songwriter Ocean Ou that this is 2015, not 2003 – so move on already. His lone big hit of yore, Lonely Northern Hemisphere, actually appears here twice – as a reworked album opener and again in a karaoke version. Milking it much?
(ST)