Artists
Album Info
Release Date: 2020-04-20Label: Crafting Room Recordings
Cassettes from https://craftingroomrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/w-nd-rl-nd-5"Hualun (花伦), an experimental / ambient rock band from Wuhan, China, formed nearly 15 years ago. Their music is characterised by repeating guitar loops and improvised synthesizer, creating unique and dense soundscapes which convey complex emotion.
Normality - or that which we used to consider "normal" - seems like a distant memory at the moment, with the advent of lock-down in the UK, in the fight against coronavirus. I have read a number of heart-warming stories over the past few weeks: the nation taking to the streets to clap the brave NHS workers battling the virus on the front lines; communities going above and beyond to help each other in the face of adversity; bandcamp agreeing to waive their fee for struggling independent artists. I feel privileged to be able to add my own, heart-warming story to this list...
It is an honour to introduce, Hualun. I was first contacted by the band in February, whilst they were trapped in isolation. Having been stuck at home for the preceding month, they reached out with the purpose of creating a cassette for the fifth instalment in their experimental, ambient series: “wʌndərlænd”. At that stage, the prospect of isolation or lock-down was completely unknown here in the UK, but the band themselves were in the eye of the storm. They sent me this message, from Wuhan, on 1st March:
"Please pay attention to your safety and prepare masks. Peace to you