Huang Hong-ying | A September Story |Hugo | China

Just like the American postwar boom in the 50s, the modern Asian "economic miracle" has spawned a legion of space-age bachelors. Throughout the capitalist Chinese diaspora, one can find guys who dig fast cars and motorcycles, elaborate aquariums and audiophile sound systems. And like his white American ancestors, the Chinese space-age bachelor has a lot of mood music in his collection. But don't expect to hear the 101 Strings or Mantovani at his pad--millennial Chinese easy listening often sounds more like Chinese folk tunes as arranged by Titanic scoresmith James Horner with maybe a dash of electronica. A perfect example would be Huang Hong-ying's A September Story.

Producer Aik Yew-goh's first collaboration with Huang, Tasting Loneliness (buy it) was a great success, with huge demand for copies in various audiophile vinyl and CD formats. This follow up is a grand affair indeed and features no less than the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra. Huang's voice is warm and lovely and the recording and production really are remarkable. Nonetheless, there's no getting around the fact that this is easy listening music. If you have a lot of Broadway or mainstream soundtrack work in your collection, are into audiophile HDCD collecting or just want to hear how the other half lounges, this may be for you. As for me, I'll probably put it on when I'm feeling nostalgic for the drunken Taiwanese 4 AMs of yesteryear.