Friday, May 9, 2008

Mafeisan - Out of Control (2005)

When it comes to the world music scene, China is too often forgotten by Westerners assuming nothing is produced behind the walls of censorship placed by People's Republic. Quite the contrary, for those who have sought it out, China offers an enormous body of modern music in many genres popular in independent Western veins. Sometimes sadly pigeon-holed as C-rock like Japanese artist must endure with J-rock and J-pop. Yet really these are just a diverse as anywhere.
However, just like in the west, rock and roll can certainly have a rebellious aspect to it. The PRC does crack down on this sort of thing more frequently and much more harshly than what rockers are familiar to. As an exemplar Beijing’s rebellious youths making noise I'm sharing Mafeisan with you. Mafeisan is an anarchist collective in the Chinese capital, and they are some of the city's best when it comes to noise. Beyond being anarchists in a totalitarian state; their front man dresses himself up as a lunatic clown, which I feel would be creepy and awesome most anywhere. Although I have never been to China, I can only assume watching and hearing what these noise rockers do is like flaunting their freedom to expression as much as they can manage pull off. Not sure if it could be called a protest, but certainly a new way of thinking for citizenry that becomes enchanted in the frenzy sounds. Definitely very D.Y.I. and intense, it just might spark a rebellious mood in you.

To be had here:
Mafeisan - Out of Control

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