Monga Original Soundtrack
Various artists

Given that the hit Taiwanese film is about hot-blooded gangsters, the soundtrack is surprisingly mellow.
It also boasts a cool, alternative-scene vibe, thanks to producer Sandee Chan who has rounded up an intriguing line-up of acts, including critics’ darling Deserts Chang, Singaporean singer-songwriter Tanya Chua and indie rock band 1976.
Chan also wrote and contributed vocals to a couple of songs. Even the stars of the film, Ethan Juan and Mark Chao, chip in for a passable duet on Tonight Tonight.
The other half of the first disc, however, falls into the usual trap of soundtracks and turns into a grab bag of disparate tunes, including two versions of the Air Supply ballad Making Love Out Of Nothing At All and J-rock number Sweet Dreams.
Disc two features evocative, mood-setting instrumental tracks composed by the ubiquitous Chan while the DVD includes trailers for Monga and behind-the-scenes snippets on the making of the soundtrack.

I Am Jocie
Jocie Guo

After singing about rodents (The Mouse So Loves The Rice) and cockroaches (No More Panic), local singer Jocie Guo is ready to move on from cutesy ditties.
Her third album opens with Gimme Me A Call, a tricky number that switches tempos between stanza and chorus, and she also offers up several upbeat dance tracks, including Countdown To Happiness, Attitude and Tell Me.
It is nice to see her stretching herself as she also composes three tracks here – the ballads Clear Blue Sea, Love Him For Me and Wishing Tree. They are pleasant enough despite having a faint whiff of deja vu.
Perhaps a venture into lyric writing next? Then the transformation from kiddy bopper to grown-up singer-songwriter will be complete.

Chasing Dreams
Kelly Chen

Has it been five years since her last Mandarin offering, Eternal Sunshine?
Truth be told, Kelly Chen’s absence has been barely felt. The Hong Kong singer-actress has been releasing albums since 1995 but one would be hard-pressed to name her hits.
Chasing Dreams tries to remedy that dire situation and almost succeeds with ballads such as Contentedness That’s Forever and A Glimmer Of Light.
On the latter, she sings: “Don’t be scared, don’t feel lost, I’ll be by your side to accompany you through the night and protect this glimmer of happiness.”One could well imagine this as a lullaby for her baby boy who was born last July.
Too bad the album ends on a bum note. Look Love, a duet which pits Chen’s sharp, almost brittle vocals against Alan Tam’s Cantonese-accented Mandarin, is an exercise in futility
(ST)