(c) Wang Wen
It should be well known by now that the last few years have been anything but great. That’s exactly what we’re currently doing Wang Wen on the subject. They observe an endless loop in world history that offers a ghastly stage for dictators, violence and social unrest. „Painful Clown & Ninja Tiger“ refers to the traditional Chinese calendar and takes this naming approach further in a pointed way.
Wang Wen take their post-rock approach further, say goodbye to the purely instrumental approach and occasionally devote themselves to new sound worlds. Such is found in the concluding “Wild Fire”, which adds Prog and Jazz, among other things. Brass and Chinese, slightly sluggish vocals give the track additional melancholy, coupled with a bit of resignation, and seem to recognize a kind of finiteness in this calculation of time. A catastrophe is imminent and is accordingly underlined, even driven, by a felt resignation.
That doesn’t mean, however, that the sextet has completely moved away from its familiar sound. In the epic “Black Pill & White Pill” they even soar to new heights. A good nine minutes take a good amount of space for classic structures – once once more underlined by brass almost soundtrack-like – and a huge crescendo, which should not be missing in this genre. This is contrasted by the depressing “Ninja Tiger”; a crushing lump of sadness whose melancholy robs all senses. On the other hand, “Painful Clown” begins quite casually and almost bouncy, before the finale, which is broken up by rough distortion, torpedoes this concept with growing enthusiasm.
It feels like Wang Wen are breaking new ground with this record without tearing everything down. While the vocals like to act as an additional instrument, jazz, horns and melancholy provide a fresh and unnerving coat of paint that torpedoes the loveliness of the Chinese, which is often hinted at. Accordingly, “Painful Clown & Ninja Tiger” seems earthier and more direct, audibly anchored in the here and now. The result may not be an album that you expected, but one that fits the zeitgeist perfectly.
Rating: 8/10
Available from: 09.12.2022
Available through: Pelagic Records
Facebook: www.facebook.com/wangwencn
Category: Magazin, Reviews
