Subversion is a challenge to orthodoxy; in Australia, we can subvert upon a whim; in China it is an act of defiance.
George Orwell said “orthodoxy means not thinking – not needing to think. Orthodoxy is unconsciousness”. While Orwell wrote predominately about Communist Russia, free and unrestricted consciousness remains a dream for the people of modern China, despite recent economic liberalisation. There are no underground press agencies or street mags and Facebook is prohibited.
On a Saturday night at Nexus Arts, experimental Beijing bands WHAI and HH presented magnificently chaotic sets of music; tunes that represent more than an artistic choice; their respective styles are a wilful act of defiance against a nation that values conformity above all else.
This year’s OzAsia Festival program sought to challenge conventional conceptions of modern Asia. Modern Chinese music is not simply bubblegum pop; it is also trip-hop and techno; it is psychedelic, sprawling jams.
WHAI, led by enigmatic and mystical Zhang Wei on the guitar and vocals, produce spiritual space odysseys that would readily appeal to fans of Aussie bands such as POND. Zhang, with sunglasses firmly lodged on his forehead and with a bird feather affixed to his guitar, artfully fingered rambling riffs alongside a rhythm section of metronomic steadiness. After the show, Zhang described his drummer as being able to “break hearts” with his instrument; this was perhaps an understatement. While WHAI was all about rupturing hearts and opening minds, Taipei techno duo HH aimed to bust open the dance floor.
HH, the Chinese Chemical Brothers, comprise of electronic musician Yao and digital visual artist Yeh. Yeh came to the stage looking like Ip Man in sneakers, but instead of Wing Chun he unleashed a flurry of knockout geometrical patterns precisely synched with Yao’s vicious beats. Their stage performance was not as spectacular as some moments captured on YouTube, but this was perhaps a consequence of the costs and logistics of transporting lighting equipment across continents.
While both acts slayed the audience in attendance with their live sets, it was disappointing that the local experimental music community did not come out in force to witness them; clashing with the Semaphore Music Festival may have been partly to blame. It was pleasing to witness WHAI making friends with supporting act and Adelaide instrumental rock stand outs Sparkspitter after the show.
'Sub Verse', by offering a blended program like-minded musicians from Adelaide and Asia, will hopefully spawn fruitful cross-pollination and cultural awareness for years to come.
★★★★☆
