TIN PAN ALLEY (HSI PAN JIE) was formed in 2003 after Wan Ting, a founding member of the seminal all-girl Taiwanese band LADYBUG, returned from studying sound engineering in Chicago. Being exposed to a variety of experimental styles, she decided to incorporate jazz fusion and post-rock in a new band. The result was Entering Another Tunnel, a minimalist instrumental album featuring exotic saxophone, surfy guitar and odd rhythms which garnered praise for TIN PAN ALLEY as a new math rock sensation. The 2008 release Needing Dimensions saw a slight shift towards more structured pop yet not lacking in mathy charms.
Wan Ting - Guitar
Xiao Bao - Bass
Wu Di - Drums
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HSI PAN JIE (TIN PAN ALLEY)
CD Album - TW061
$12.99
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TRACK LIST:
PACIFICTION REVIEW:This sophomore effort from TIN PAN ALLEY shows a maturation in technique and a mastery of making lo-fi recordings sound like major studio works when compared to the band's first album Entering Another Tunnel. Those familiar with VARO will notice Wan Ting's signature surfy tremolo riffing, but this time it's revved up with ear-tingling effects surely to make those shoegazers perk up; and, her parts are set to math rock rhythms instead of the laptop-generated beats typical of VARO. Also on Needing Dimensions, Wan Ting is reunited with LADYBUG bassist Xiao Bao who provides a steady post-punk pulse on songs like "195." While most tracks are instrumental in the same meandering vein as older TIN PAN ALLEY material, sweetly melodic vocals are featured on songs like "Trendy Psychiatrist" and "Taking To The Air" keeping Needing Dimensions on a level that everyday pop music fans can groove to. | ||