5 Dec 2015

The Beijing Experimental Underground

From Adventures in Musicland, 4:05 pm on 5 December 2015
Beijing musician Li Jianhong

Beijing musician Li Jianhong playing underneath the Beijing Airport Expressway Photo: Daniel Beban

After Orchestra of Spheres finished their tour of China last month, Daniel Beban stayed around for a few weeks to get to know the underground experimental music scene in Beijing. He discovered a tight-knit community of artists who create their music on the fringes of mainstream Chinese society.

The first gig he went to literally was underground, in a tunnel underneath an expressway on the outskirts of Beijing.

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Music details

Artist: Wang Ziheng
Composer: W.Ziheng
Track: Underpass Improvisation
Album: Unreleased
Label: Private

Artist: Ake, Daniel Beban, Erica Sklenars
Composer: Z.Yueyuan, D.Beban, E.Sklenars
Track: Underpass Improvisation
Album: Unreleased
Label: Private

Artist: Yan Jun and Wong Chung-Fai
Composer: Y.Jun, W.Chung-Fai
Track: 1
Album: M
Label: Re Records

Artist: Yan Jun
Composer: Y.Jun
Track: Fan
Album: 15 Minutes in Life
Label: Little Sound Records

Artist: Yan Jun
Composer: Y.Jun
Track: Yesterday
Album: Yesterday
Label: Kwanyin

Artist: Li Jianhong
Composer: L.Jianhong
Track: Wind Blows in the Sunset
Album: Empty Mountain
Label: CFI Records

Artist: Mind Fiber
Compser: L.Jianhong, W.Wei
Track: AM 1
Album: Hello Balcony
Label: CFI Records

Artist: Vavabond
Composer: W.Wei
Track: Accelerate
Album: Hologram of Sea
Label: CFI Records

Artist: Xiao Hong and Xiao Xiao Hong
Composer: X.Hong, X.Hong
Track: Talking History
Album: Black Sheep
Label: G.B.J.D Records

Artist: Ake
Composer: Ake
Track: Improvisation 1
Album: Unreleased
Label: Private

Artist: Meng Qi
Composer: M.Qi
Track: Sequencer
Album: Synth
Label: Meng Qi Music

Artist: Meng Qi
Composer: M.Qi
Track: Sequencer
Album: Chinese Palace
Label: Meng Qi Music

Artist: Soviet Pop
Composer: L.Qing, L.Weisi
Track: Sound of Silent Radio
Album: Suweiai Bopu
Label: Goaty Tapes

Artist: Soviet Pop
Composer: L.Qing, L.Weisi
Track: Side A
Album: Dialogue
Label: Soviet Pop

Artist: The Tea Rockers Quintet
Composer: L.Gu, W.Na, X.He, L.Daiguo, Y.Jun
Track: #4
Album: Ceremony
Label: Ent-T

Artist: Vavabond
Composer: W.Wei
Track: Split
Album: Hologram of Sea
Label: CFI Records