oh dear, what a gem!

deserts zhang xuan live@the wall (must-watch!)



my fixation with guitar-wielding rock chicks continues with deserts zhang xuan(張懸) from taiwan.

i must be the 1st few ones in malaysia to get this album, sophomore album from zhang , entitled "oh dear, i really don't know". at the princely sum of RM75 (from rock corner, 1-U), an imported version that is, i had better be the first few owners!

at close to double the normal retail price for local pressing, i don't even need to bat my eyelid. if you want to wait for sony bmg to release it locally (and save the money), give it another 2-3 months la.

unlike my idol cheer chen qi zhen (search for "cheer chen" in the search option for previous posts on her), whose music is ethereal, poetic and a bit of alt-rock slant, zhang xuan's music is folk-rockish, with a very raw and very direct delivery. even the guitar playing between these two talented singer-songwriters are different in style.

but i have to admit, as much as i like chen, zhang has a better voice - more powerful, more infectious and more impactful.

the rock songs here are quite good but what i really like about zhang is her ballads. this sophomore album has more acoustic ballads, which is exactly what the doctor ordered. zhang's ballads, with just her voice and a pristine-sounding guitar, are heartfelt and thoroughly tuneful. she has a signature style with her ballads, which is instantly recognizable. play them on speakers with good highs and you will be in cloud nine. the guitar's body is eerily palpable; the twanging sound of every string plucked is discernible and felt. it is like she is there in my living hall.

the whole album is recorded live, with musicians playing live hence you could feel the directness and rawness.

very seldom can a sophomore outdo the debut, and this is one such prime exception.
this gets my vote as one of the best chinese pop albums in 2007.

this is what playing hifi is all about - enjoying the music you love that is musically and sonically satisfying.

life is good :-)