Mr. Zhou’s Melody 967 is undeniably influenced by the brief, but brilliant, Brit Pop of the mid 1990s, acts such as Radiohead, Suede and Pulp. Yet, this is Britpop with Chinese characteristics, as one might expect from a band founded by Beijing-based frontman/singer/guitarist Zhou Fengling and lead guitarist Zhou Guangbin. The band may have been formed just five years ago, but the two Zhous are veterans of the China rock scene. Indeed, Zhou Fengling has been on the scene for nearly two decades. He first won fame back in the golden age of China rock, with bands like The Face and Hearts 5, sharing the stage with the likes of Dou Wei and even Radiohead itself, at memorable gigs in Hong Kong in the 90s. With such a wealth of experience, you might expect Melody 967 to push the boundaries a little more. The melancholic “Peacefully Brilliant” and the mesmeric “Outsider” are admittedly bright pop numbers, but the band never really offers anything that might be called unique. True, the atmospheric, ear friendly tunes sound remarkably like a Brit Pop record of yore – on “Gate” and “Pupil”, Fengling’s falsettos sound uncannily like Thom Yorke’s – but even the melodic guitar attacks and effects are too reminiscent of times past. This is a pleasant enough soundtrack for the summer, but one can’t help but feel that Mr. Zhou (both of them) are capable of much more.
Modern Sky/Badhead

(c) that's Shanghai Magazine
Chief editor: Steven Crane
July 2006 issue