18
Z-Chen Chang
Malaysian singer Z-Chen Chang’s last studio album of original material, In Love With... (2011), still lingers on my mind with his moving take on the ballads Invaluable Advice and Met Too Soon, both of which were penned by Percy Phang.
Bruises, the opening track from the new album, also composed by the Johor Baru-born, Taiwan-educated Phang, is not quite as effective. Listen instead to the bruising emotions of Walk Away, composed by Zheng Yujie, who was also behind the title track of Rainie Yang’s 2016 album Traces Of Time In Love: “I walk away, carve my memories into a memorial/I walk away, break free of these surging tears.”
The following Fight For Love, music and lyrics by Phang, offers a welcome change of pace and a more pro-active stance: “If you really love someone, you will fight for love.”
On the whole, though, 18 is less memorable than his earlier effort. Maybe Chang needs to fight for more distinctive material.
(ST)