CD covers. Photos: Courtesy of the musicians

By Nick Muzyczka

Shanghai sees few really exciting releases of local recordings (especially outside the indie rock genre), but times may be changing. There are rumors of several upcoming releases in the rock community - Fever Machine, Lions of Puxi, Stegosaurus?, Moon Tyrant, Friend or Foe, Rainbow Danger Club and Sonnet are all reported to be heading to the studio. As an appetizer, Shanghai music fans can warm up with two very different projects by scene staples Tinho Periera and Break for Borneo.

Tinho Periera - Hand Made

The resident bass player with JZ's talented Big Band since 2006, Periera has just released his debut solo Hand Made, produced in conjunction with Three Chord Truth records, Studio 188 Marketing, and the JZ Club. Featuring many of Shanghai's leading jazz musicians, this very rhythmical recording reflects the variety of influences encountered by Periera on his musical career, which has seen him play on stages across South America, Italy, Northern Europe, Hong Kong and Hawaii.

"Over the past five years in Shanghai I have been involved in some great projects playing jazz, latin, big band, rock and reggae. ?Sharing the stage with great players is a true joy. In Shanghai you have a chance to meet and share musical experiences with musicians from everywhere in the world. ?The mix of music and people is really special," Periera told the Global Times.

Hand Made seems most comfortable in the sweeping, carnivalesque grooves of Periera's homeland. "Brazilian Groove"'s poppy funk opening take a little while to kick in before opening into a majestic middle section with a superb saxophone solo. "Shanghai My City" is as silky as its title, with long, meandering guitar solos set against an undulating chord progression.

"Natália" returns to the thick orchestrations of the big band, with Periera and the rhythm section grooving hard underneath Hu Qingwen's extended agile trombone solo. Highly percussive, the track moves through Oswaldinho's dainty accordion work before building into a weaving, call-and-response finale.

 "I like to use compositional techniques that don't take the heart and soul out of the music," Periera said. "The album was made with a combination of craftsmanship, feel, soul, thought and chance. I wanted to concentrate on being honest and portray a mostly instrumental composition with various rhythmic styles, while maintaining a Brazilian feel."?

Break for Borneo - Life Gets in the Way

Branding their music "Tropical Rock" (Trock, for short), Break for Borneo has been a distinctive presence on the local scene since its inception in 2006. Life Gets in the Way contains everything that we have come to expect from the group - rousing choruses, catchy guitar lines and high energy fun, all rooted in a spritely reggae sensibility able to lift even the most wintry dispositions.

The quality is maintained throughout the album. Triplet rhythms in the vocal lines add momentum, while the MCing sometimes moves in non-standard directions, in a kind of jerky almost Outcast manner that adds pleasing contrast. The angular guitar motifs, tastefully distorted solos and witty lyrics will ensure the CD appeals to a wide demographic.

Break for Borneo told the Global Times that they "aim to exploit instruments that others don't - the ukulele, weird percussion toys picked up on vacations - and to explore sounds that come from more exotic locales. We also exploit the blend of Adam Crossley and Becca Smith singing together to create interesting harmonies and Zack Smith throwing in raps to mix it up."?

Sonnet and Rainbow Danger Club

The new albums from these two well-regarded scene players are likely to sound very different, but they do share a common theme. Both groups are looking to fans or local artists to create the artwork for their releases. Rainbow Danger Club is offering a cash prize of 1,200 yuan ($182) for the winning design. Speaking about the artwork competition, Sonnet drummer Yan Yang told the Global Times that "interactivity is not a new word - it's the lifestyle of the web 2.0 generation."

Break for Borneo's CD can be downloaded for free at breakforborneo.bandcamp.com. Hand Made can be purchased at the JZ club and online at CD Baby and Itunes.