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By David Chen and Andrew C.C. Huang
Sunday, Aug 22, 2010, Page 14
Taipei Times


It’s hard to tell whether Mando-pop superstar Wang Lee-hom’s new film Love in Disguise (戀愛通告) is the cinematic accompaniment to his new album, or if Wang’s new album The 18 Martial Arts (十八般武藝) is the sound track to his directorial debut, since the two projects are so tightly knitted together.

Mostly a formulaic vehicle that breaks little new ground, Wang builds on his self-coined “chinked-out” sound on The 18 Martial Arts, his 15th studio album, and further promotes his own signature sound in contrast to the output of Mando-pop’s two other heavenly kings (the R ’n’ B of David Tao (陶喆) and the “Chinese flavor” (中國風) of Jay Chou (周杰倫).

The album’s “chinked out” sound is mainly established by a few tracks that merge hip-hop defiance with the serenity of traditional Chinese music. The opening track Dragon Dance features snippets of drumming from Chinese dragon dances in a titillating declaration of cultural pride. Last Verse of Boya (伯牙絕弦) is the result of yet another sparkling collaboration between Wang and Mayday’s (五月天) front man A-hsin (阿信), who previously elevated Wang’s hip-hop driven Along the Plum Blossoms (在梅邊) with classical Chinese literary prose.

Wang’s fusion music reaches new heights on the album, with traditional music elements performed by the China Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra (中央廣播民族樂團).

On the single Match, Rice, Oil, Salt, Soy, Vinegar, Tea (柴米油鹽醬醋茶), Wang extols the virtues of life’s ordinary pleasures. The lyrics, written by songstress Vivian Hsu (徐若瑄), detail the bliss of everyday happiness in an unexpectedly poetic way.

Hard-earned hip-hop credibility aside, Wang’s forte continues to be his soaring R ’n’ B ballads rendered in his unique ABT accent in the vein of You’re Not Here (你不在) and The Only One (唯一). The two theme songs from Love in Disguise, Things You Didn’t Know (你不知道的事) and Until the End of the World (天涯海角), are the latest entries in Wang’s romantic pop canon.

Though lacking innovation, The 18 Martial Arts does boast Wang’s polished musicianship and his newfound confidence in staking out his own signature style.

— ANDREW C.C. HUANG