Wang Wen
Sweet Home Go

Wang Wen might well be the best thing exported from China, at least when looking at their interesting way of creating artistic music, like their 2014 effort Eight Horses which is a way better thing than iPhones or all that other crap that is being made in China. So I liked Eight Horses and had hopes for this one and the idea having a changeable front cover is amusing so that aspect of the artwork isn’t lost on them and they have worked with European producers this time so it may be some changes there, not that it was needed if Eight Horses was anything to go by.

This album is similar but I think it is longer and sleepier compared with its predecessor. The tracks are all very long and does not evolve much through them and we have many long parts where it sounds the same for quite a while – I think this album could be more dynamic. Their music is post rock, instrumental and very melodic with sweeping musical landscapes and this time a fairly undefined structure. The 74 minutes the album plays for could easily have been reduced to 55 without loosing the heart and soul of the album, just making it more dynamic.

But the Chinese quintet still makes a very good album and I should not really complain too much because no matter these little niggles I still find this album to be very agreeable and likeable. Good when I need to sleep, just start to play it when I go to bed and I am fast asleep before the first track has come halfway. But it is not just as a sleeping aid it works, it is a good album just to play in the background when writing or doing something else, the melodies are soft and nice and moves slowly forwards in a way that won’t distract you from what you are doing. It feels a little sweeping and doesn’t quite grab my attention but I really like the sounds, the production is excellent and that may actually be the only step forward compared with the predecessor.

Wang Wen are hugely successful in China and I think they will be more and more noticed in the right environments also in the rest of the world. They are certainly a quality band that has the ability to create musical magic even though they are not quite as successful this time. I think a shorter and more focused album would have been preferable, nevertheless I don’t think you will be disappointed if you give them a chance.

HHHHHHH