Island Catch

This is the second full-length release from Taiwanese pipa player Yufeng and American singer and acoustic guitarist Chen, and the music takes a tour of music from Taiwan, China, Okinawa and the US. The informative liner notes are essential to enjoying this album as they offer a song-by-song guide to the music. From Taiwanese street vendor shouts, to Chinese labourers far away in the Caribbean, to Okinawan folklore and American blues there is a lot going on here. This is no fussy academic work, however, as the two musicians bring a lot of joy and passion to the music; the sweetly swinging ‘Angling the Pacfic’ is a gorgeous trip around various Pacific Ocean island musical styles.

Although this reviewer prefers the instrumental tracks, Chen sings with an easy charm on the bluesier numbers, while Taiwanese pop singer Wan Fang guests on a ballad about the wives left behind in the Fujian province of China as their men sought work abroad. Perhaps a tad too long, but otherwise another really interesting release from what is emerging as a lively, experimental music scene in Taiwan.