Artist: Chinese Man Album: Racing With the Sun

Year: 2011
Duration: 0:0-1

A Critical Review of the Album: Racing With the Sun by Chinese Man

Established in 2004, Chinese Man is a French music group with a strong influence from hip hop, electro and dub music. The band consists of three producers, High Ku, Zé Mateo and Sly, who are known for their unique blend of sounds and styles. Their album, Racing With the Sun, was released in 2011, and it has been hailed as a shining example of their prowess in genre-bending music making. In this post, we'll take a closer look at the album and explore its strengths, weaknesses and innovations.

The Racing With the Sun album belongs to the downtempo and trip hop franchise. With a blend of different sounds, it delivers a listening experience that's both smooth and invigorating. The album starts with the title track, which sets the tone for the rest of the album. Chinese Man takes listeners on a journey through different cultures and sounds with songs like One Past and Le Pudding.

One of the most innovative parts of Racing with the Sun is the band's use of live instrumentation, which adds a unique texture to the album. The combination of samples, loops and live instruments such as saxophones, trumpets and guitars, shows how Chinese Man is constantly pushing the boundaries of the genre, and exploring new ways to create music.

The album is also notable for its seamless transitions between songs, which creates an immersive listening experience. Each track blends into the next, maintaining the same mood and tempo, culminating in a complete, unified work of art. Several tracks such as Miss Chang and Get Up have addictive hooks, and can instantly get stuck in your head.

However, some tracks on the album fall short of expectations, like Rainbow and Ta Bom. These songs, while still enjoyable, don't stand out as much in the overall context of the album, and are not as memorable as their counterparts.

Overall, Racing With the Sun is a well-produced and innovative album that's worth a listen. Chinese Man combines different musical genres and techniques to create a unique sound, that's both adventurous and pleasant on the ears. The band has shown a strong willingness to experiment and explore new boundaries.

In summary, Racing With the Sun by Chinese Man is a masterful blend of trip hop and downtempo sounds, that provides an immersive and unique listening experience. The innovative use of live instrumentation and seamless transitions between tracks, adds to the charm of the album. While some songs are weaker than others, the album stands out as a testament to the band's musical creativity and willingness to take risks. For those who enjoy trip-hop and electro music, this album is a must-listen.