For transparency’s sake , it is worth mentioning that the Chinese musical landscape is pretty foreign (pardon the pun).
Beyond a few acts that have made their way onto community radio, or those who have danced onto our screens on PopAsia, knowledge is generally quite limited.
What can be said, however, is the psychedelic music movement is clearly blossoming all over the world.
If you’re a follower of Tenzenmen records you will have some understanding of what to expect from one of their releases.
Noted for unearthing DIY bands that create very original sounds, the label is heavily involved in the alternative music scene in China and a large percentage of their roster come from there, including Chui Wan.
The band call Beijing home and, like many other city dwellers, are seeking out to separate the mundane from the infinite. They cite Daoist philosopher Zhuangzi as an influence, indeed choosing their name from one of his teachings which looks at the relationship between nature and humans.
Sonically, they also embrace the mystical on this album, which journeys between psychedelic and post-rock.
With a huge emphasis on atmosphere, White Night traverses many aural plains. Opening track “Swimming” starts the album with underwater sounds punctuated by surf guitar, yet by the time we reach the LP’s midpoint, “Dan Ding He”, we are on higher ground and in Black Mountain territory before the title track plonks us right in a bustling Beijing street.
The band does sing in English, yet at no point does this release feel particularly western. Instead, it is a product of a burgeoning counter culture in China, which is bound to make its way across the pond, and into Australia’s musical consciousness. Best get on board early.
