Review by: Punk and rock n’ roll reviews from Lord Rutledge and friend.
Listen to the album here:
https://thesinohearts.bandcamp.com/album/mandarin-a-go-go
Their second album ‘Mandarin A-GOGO’ was recorded and produced in Austria, especially mixed and mastered on a vintage analogue tape machine. The album contains 10 fantastic new songs, musically among 60s Garage,70s Punk/Powerpop,Neo Mod and other outdated guitar romantics. These Chinese punkers are just incredible and will absolutely blow your minds with their powerful, fun music! Comes with printed innersleeve!!! “
-Soundflat Records
Produced by Tom Zwanzger
www.stressstudio.com
All Songs and Lyrics written by Zhong
Guitar, Bass, Vocal: Zhong
Drums: Fan Yu, Xu Minghe
Recorded between March and November 2019 at S.T.R.E.S.S. Studio, Graz, Austria & Hooman Studio,Beijing, China
Designed by Zhong and Lisa Yuan
Proofreading: Mary Kate White
Band Logo Illustration: Stay Gold Grafix
Special Thanks to: Traxman, Masao Nakagami
“Mandarin A Go-Go” LP Out Now via Topsy Turvy Records !
ORDER HERE: www.soundflat.de/shop/shop.cfm?artnr=27326&CFID=c117ac32-fc64-44d1-bfaf-713f89ad635a&CFTOKEN=0
Wow! Sino Hearts land right in the center of the F & L musical universe.
With primary influences intersecting at ’70s punk-pop and power pop, this Chinese band definitely hits my stylistic sweet spot.
It’s hard for me to believe that this band has been around for several years and I’m just now becoming aware of its music!
Zhong (ex DeeCRACKS) is the primary creative force here. On the band’s excellent new album Mandarin A Go-Go (Soundflat/Topsy Turvy Records), he’s the songwriter, singer, guitarist, and bass player. Zhong wears his love for the Exploding Hearts on his sleeve, and there’s nothing wrong with that at all!
Beyond that, he also takes inspiration from first generation punk-pop (Buzzcocks, Boys, Ramones), the late ’70s mod-revival, classic era power pop, and even some modern pop-punk (there are hints of Mikey Erg in some of his vocals). In short, Sino Hearts are a great mix of almost everything I like in music.
Mandarin A Go-Go ably bounces from the textbook powerpop/punk of “Loveless Nights” to the swinging, mod-inspired title track to the pure power pop of “Growing Apart” to the hopped-up punk-pop of “Mary K” to the tender, melancholic pop of “A Way or Another”. And while the influences are clear, Sino Hearts never sound like they’re trying to be any of the bands they admire.
Zhong approaches the punk/pop/mod style with a good amount of originality and a personality of his own. This is fun music with tremendous heart – and that’s a combination that always works for me. Some songs will make you wanna dance. Others will tear your heart out.
A few might manage to do both. Guitar romantics unite!
https://www.facebook.com/sinohearts
https://www.soundflat.de/shop/shop.cfm?artnr=27326&CFID=c117ac32-fc64-44d1-bfaf-713f89ad635a&CFTOKEN=0
https://www.facebook.com/Topsy-Turvy-Records-608663072909039/