It is a true honor to host the legendary Suzhou-based outfit Grace Latecomer on our blog. The outfit, which came into existence in 2005, is the creator of China’s emerging post-rock scene. Their music created a foundation for the genre in China, which eventually found a home on the prestigious 1724 Records. Their latest release is not a nostalgic effort by any means. It is a living continuation of the outfit’s music. The outfit has remained quiet for over a decade, and they are now back with a new release titled Jiang Zhang (Whispering), a three-track EP released on 28th February. It delves into the heavy architecture of memory, survival, and the voices that refuse to be silenced.
The first track is All that is solid melts into air”. The EP begins not with a strum or a beat, but with a low, grounding hum, a drone of synthesizer and electric guitar that slowly builds and eventually gives way to the rhythmic, percussive sound of a ticking clock, a metronome. This is no melodic intro; it’s a temporal one, a grounding of the listener in the reality of the passage of time before the hauntingly clean electric guitar melody begins to weave through the static. The theme is an exploration of impermanence and the fragility of the structures we build, both as a culture and as individuals. The character in the song vows to fight even if she doesn’t know why. It highlights the survival instincts in every human being. Musically, the vocal work is ethereal and otherworldly, at times layering her own voice to create a kind of choir of “whispers” that is very effective; the use of reverb-heavy guitar work is like a blanket of space. The effect on the listener is one of crushing existential dread; it’s like the ground has been sucked out from under your feet.
The second track, “Hua hutiao”, dispels the tension that was unexpectedly created in the opening track. It has an earthy, organic sound, and it’s quite a change from the electronic haze of the first track. The title is a phrase from the Suzhou dialect, reminiscent of a dance movement from a traditional folk dance. The phrase has a sudden sense of movement, as if a tiger is jumping out of the darkness with effortless ease and beauty. The phrase has a pulse that is full of traditional energy, as if it is jumping out into motion with a fierce beauty that is full of movement. In the song, it is a metaphor for life itself, a sudden and spirited movement that cuts through the stillness like stripes of movement in the night. The instrumentation becomes more complex as the song progresses, layering guitar strums into the perfect melody that will captivate listeners.
The final track, “Kitsch Klub,” begins with a bass pulse, distorted and low-fidelity, with a quality reminiscent of feeling the beat through a floorboard. This is quickly augmented by a steady, electronic hi-hat rhythm, giving the song a modern, low-fidelity, and distinctly “chill-hop” sound. While the first two songs lacked a clear tempo, this song establishes a clear and driving rhythm from the very first second, with a quality reminiscent of walking down a busy street at night. The musicality is the most complex on the EP, with a mix of organic and electronic sounds. The primary instrument is an electric guitar with an amazing aura. The instrumentation develops as the track progresses, adding shimmering synthesizer pads and faintly distorted atmospheric noise in the background. The effect on the listener is one of catharsis and movement. The “rhythm and ‘club'” influence of the track feels like a release after the minimalist and organic textures of the earlier tracks, ending the EP on a note of high-definition resolution.
The EP follows a process of transformation, starting with the vocal-centered urgency of “All That Is Solid Melts Into Air,” in which the lyrical skill of Chinese Football’s Xu Bo lends a human breath to the atmosphere. It flows seamlessly into the mesmerizing rhythmic motion of “Hua Hu Tiao,” which is like watching a landscape speed past a window on a train. Finally, the experience comes to rest in the fragile reflections of “Kitsch Klub,” a song that hangs in the air like a secret. While short in length, this EP is a labyrinth of breathtaking surprises, filled with new layers of brilliance with every listen. It has been a genuine and rare pleasure to sit with these sounds and interpret them into words. I implore you, dear readers, to lock in with this artist, as they are bringing a level of craft and emotional content that demands your attention. Grace Latecomer is not simply making music; they are crafting a sanctuary, and you won’t want to leave.
Stream the “Whispering” EP on Spotify
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