Sorry for the slightly off topic question but can you point me to the record store I should visit in Shanghai to find music in the direction of your newsletter?
Umm... to be honest I'm not entirely sure where's a good spot post-Uptown. There's Melting Pot on Yongjia Lu, near Anting Lu, but though it's a cool little spot it didn't use to carry much in the way of independent Chinese music when I used to go there regularly (a few years back now).
Not sure how long you're in town for, but Daily Vinyl has a shop in Suzhou, which is pretty close these days on the gaotie. The people behind it know their stuff, but I've not been so can't vouch for the shop being worth the trip.
Sorry, not a lot of help - I'm afraid I tend to use Taobao mostly these days - but will keep hunting and update here if I find some better options for you. Could be worth keeping an eye out for any Record Store Day events / markets coming up next month as well, depending on when you're there
You’re very welcome, sorry I don’t have better recommendations.
Another place is Boocup Raccoon Record Store on Yueyang Lu – I always got the sense they focused more on international records and were a bit expensive, but to be fair I’ve never been so may be worth a look if you’re in the area.
You’ve opened up a completely new musical crack with Glamorous Pharmacy and tales of live bedlam. ‘Folk luminaries’ - you have me hooked. Who?! MOREMOREMORE please. :-)
I've been meaning to write a proper piece about Xiao He for years now, especially after I went around with him in Shanghai as part of his project to record old Chinese nursery rhymes and children's songs... He's a fascinating figure. Hopefully he'll put out a new solo record soon to give me an excuse / pressure to finally write that up.
I suppose the other most famous members of the group were Zhang Weiwei and Guo Long; they had their album together Silver Hotel and both were in Wild Children for a number of years, another revered Chinese folk group of course. Zhang left both bands around about the same time a couple of years ago I think, presumably to work on the solo record he put out last year.
The other main members - Zheng Zhiyong, Ye Penggang and Li Tieqiao - were all on the scene at the time Glamorous Pharmacy were formed but I'm not particularly aware of other projects they did beyond this (to be fair, if you're going to make just one album, what an album). That trio are all on board for the latest version of Glamorous Pharmacy though, interestingly, so it's not just Xiao He reviving the band name for touring purposes or something.
Sorry for the slightly off topic question but can you point me to the record store I should visit in Shanghai to find music in the direction of your newsletter?
Cheers!
Good question and not that off topic at all!
Umm... to be honest I'm not entirely sure where's a good spot post-Uptown. There's Melting Pot on Yongjia Lu, near Anting Lu, but though it's a cool little spot it didn't use to carry much in the way of independent Chinese music when I used to go there regularly (a few years back now).
Not sure how long you're in town for, but Daily Vinyl has a shop in Suzhou, which is pretty close these days on the gaotie. The people behind it know their stuff, but I've not been so can't vouch for the shop being worth the trip.
Sorry, not a lot of help - I'm afraid I tend to use Taobao mostly these days - but will keep hunting and update here if I find some better options for you. Could be worth keeping an eye out for any Record Store Day events / markets coming up next month as well, depending on when you're there
Thanks man! I am gonna give melting pot a try. Suzhou probably not on the menu this time, but will save it for later. Taobao will be a plan b then ;)
You’re very welcome, sorry I don’t have better recommendations.
Another place is Boocup Raccoon Record Store on Yueyang Lu – I always got the sense they focused more on international records and were a bit expensive, but to be fair I’ve never been so may be worth a look if you’re in the area.
Good luck and happy digging!
Just remembered there’s also a fRUITYSHOP in Shanghai. Again, feel like they don’t really stock Chinese indie records, but if you’re nearby…
fRUITYSHOP 上海
上海市静安区福建北路100号万象天地西里地下一层LG131a （唱片店）
now listening to Dirty Fingers
RUNRUNRUN album is a keeper.
You’ve opened up a completely new musical crack with Glamorous Pharmacy and tales of live bedlam. ‘Folk luminaries’ - you have me hooked. Who?! MOREMOREMORE please. :-)
I've been meaning to write a proper piece about Xiao He for years now, especially after I went around with him in Shanghai as part of his project to record old Chinese nursery rhymes and children's songs... He's a fascinating figure. Hopefully he'll put out a new solo record soon to give me an excuse / pressure to finally write that up.
I suppose the other most famous members of the group were Zhang Weiwei and Guo Long; they had their album together Silver Hotel and both were in Wild Children for a number of years, another revered Chinese folk group of course. Zhang left both bands around about the same time a couple of years ago I think, presumably to work on the solo record he put out last year.
The other main members - Zheng Zhiyong, Ye Penggang and Li Tieqiao - were all on the scene at the time Glamorous Pharmacy were formed but I'm not particularly aware of other projects they did beyond this (to be fair, if you're going to make just one album, what an album). That trio are all on board for the latest version of Glamorous Pharmacy though, interestingly, so it's not just Xiao He reviving the band name for touring purposes or something.
Thanks very much for the shout-out and ultra kind words!
Thanks very much for the brilliant post!
As always, your recommendations will dominate my playlists for the coming weeks. This new run run run Album is soooo good!
Ah thanks so much, glad you’re enjoying the Run Run Run record and the other recommendations. Thanks for reading!
Duck Fight Goose do nu-jazz? I am there! On Spotify, as I'm a lowly Android user.
Haha, yeah strong Shanghai nostalgia vibes with this one