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You get Chinese Man, the French trip-hop collective and my newest musical discovery. I was enjoying the night at Muka, a hip underground French wine bar in San Francisco, when I heard “Miss Chang” (video is below) off the owner’s playlist. Utilizing influences from around the world, it’s some of the best genre fusing I’ve ever heard. Each track on their 2011 release Racing With the Sun is unique and inspired.
Bio from their website:
Who are they? Where are they? And more particularly what are they? If you really wonder, these few lines won’t be that useful…
Oneâ€quarter Cantonese, twoâ€thirds Manchou, the Chinese man appears to be from the Wu Tang Mountain, not far from Marseilles, France. In 2004, the Chinese man (as we affectionately call him) decided to send his disciples around the world to spread the Zen spirit with old music samples and supersonic bass !
Thus, Sly, Zé Mateo and High Ku left their master, ready to face the mission they had been entrusted with.
In 2005, the three companions committed their first phonographic havoc. “THE PANDI GROOVE EP”, a mix of influences back from their parents : Reggae, Brazilian Baile Funk and Old School Hip Hop… With the Mistral in their back, the band expanded on the creation of a 2nd maxi with the participation of Leo Le Bug (an unconditional producer fed with psychedelic 70’s Hip hop) and polymorph toasters from the band “Bionic Man Sound “. »THE BUNNI GROOVE EP now confirms the previous oracles, the YI King speaks and it is the fire that falls from the sky.
It is now a real army, serving under the banner of the Chinese Man; Fred & Annabelle create images to depict the stories of the greatest battles of those mysterious warriors while High Ku, Zé Mateo and The Yan disseminate the Zen Spirit during wild parties, the Printemps de Bourges to the Solidays in Paris as well as during Les Nuits Zébrées, with Sharon Jones, RJD2 and DJ Qbert.
After «THE INDI GROOVE EP”, Chinese Man has released his first CD compilation of those vinylistic misdeeds. Released in 2007, “The Groove Sessions Vol. 1” is a first retrospective in 12 tracks of the adventures of the Chinese Man and his disciples.
On the eve of the release of the second volume of “Groove Sessions”, the Chinese Crew has been tirelessly preparing a new offensive on stage; High Ku, Sly and Zé Mateo have sharpened their swords. Lurked in the shadow, they are waiting, ready to go fighting…
Recognizing the sign of the Chinese Man presence is quite simple : you have to notice heavy bass and especially… slanting eyes. Don’t be surprised if they surreptitiously enter your home, those guys are deceitful, bearing arms and are unscrupulous !
As they say in both hip-hop and journalism: sic sic sic…