Review:

on 2011-05-21 CharlesMartel Said:

Back in the late 1980's, four guys from Hong Kong, disillusioned with the pap which was being out under the name of pop music decided to do something about it. Collectively, they formed The Sun The Sun and began recording a series of demos in a dingy studio in Yaumatei. Gradually, a set began to emerge. However, two of the band members were already working on a different project and soon The Sun The Sun disbanded.

About a year later, the Hong Kong Standard daily newspaper began a contest to find the best new song. Demo tapes from all over Hong Kong were submitted, and the winning song chosen was "Taken For A Ride" by The Sun The Sun. The prize was a weekend in a recording studio to cut a professional recording of two tracks. Briefly, the band reformed and produced "Taken For A Ride" and "Australian Knives". Not content with that, the band then had the demos cut as a 12 inch single and issued under their own label.

The result is a combination of guitar-driven jangle pop and mid 80's British post punk, a combination which reflected the diverse musical tastes of the band members. The production was perhaps a little quiet and therefore sounds somewhat flat at times, especially on the hi-hat. Also, the vocals are too much to the fore and, while this was intentional, it seems in retrospect to have been overdone. Although the single was sold off to friends, it was never going to cut it in a Hong Kong whose music scene was dominated by Canto-pop crooners and failed actresses. The band split for the second time and no more vinyls were cut. All that is left behind are a few tapes and this disk.
Rating: 9/10