At first sight, you might laugh at the flying, cosmic spud on the CD cover, but what’s inside is serious stuff. Make no mistake, lead singer/guitar player Ma Yulong’s sorrowful, shy vocals are not to be taken lightly. The quintet delivers strong bass lines, storming drums, distorted guitar solos, and hushed vocals a la Radiohead or Coldplay, which may not sound original, but is beyond a doubt effective. Sound Fragment (Shengyin Suipian), a Chinese band founded by a poet, a doctor and an art teacher, delivers mesmerizing tunes and catchy, melodic outbursts in their second album. They really get it right towards the second half of the record conveying terrific intensity and power. Pop, funky, jazzy, atmospheric, ghostly at times, even lyrical, but hypnotic all the way, Under Life Is… is one finely and tastefully produced release.
Modern Sky/Badhead Music

(c) that's Shanghai Magazine
Chief editor: Steven Crane
October 2005 issue