Alok

Underground 29 : Review

2006-06-24T13:29:00.000+08:00

Date : 9 June 2006

Bands : System Kick [from Macau], Hard Candy, An id Signal & Aloks31G

Venue : The Edge

Aloks31G like smoothed-out coarse grain sandpaper in broad sweeps, they're masters at the art of drawing you into their back-and-forth rhythm, going from lush to minimalist and back again, all the while carrying you with it like an ocean wave upon the shore. very trance-like but in a slower way. they keep enough sound going at any given moment to keep your attention totally occupied, taking you on an interesting adventure every time. the emotional stories they tell through the performance of their music are simply fascinating and captivating. the sharp drummer keeps pushing the mellow mush of sound forward, eagerly and unrelentingly. you're never left hanging, even for a moment, there's always something going on.

review by Wally Amos

-
Phew, after two sets of scream-death-hardcore-shrieking-angst pain, I'm in dire need of aural relief. "Doesn't anyone know how to sing anymore?" I asked myself, before Aloks31G open with a long psycho-metal instrumental, with plenty of sonic noise - reminiscent of the Deftones, but perhaps not quite as heavy. From this, singer Sean hits the stage and they move into an emo-80s Psychedelic Furs-on-steroids groove that sounds great. Someone's finally SINGING, hooray! My head's bobbing at last! However, their third song sounds like Joy Division on a bad acid trip before, thankfully, their fourth song moves into a funk-punk groove that would fit nicely on any 90s alternative dancefloor, a-la Primal Scream or the Stone Roses. Plenty of good musicianship, and it's not surprising considering half the band is made up of Unixx members. And this, their offshoot project, surfs a fine line between 80s and contemporary styles, and rock and dance music, and comes off sounding quite good. However, I personally find the songs very long and verbose, perhaps because they only played four and needed to fill time? Nonetheless, if they can chop them down into four-minute singles, and write four more, they could be on to a real winning formula.

review by Brendan Delfino

more and more photos http://undergroundhk.com/u29.html

photos by Willem Van Der Merwe

June 17 Party Time @ Phonograph

2006-06-15T13:24:00.000+08:00

_____________________________________________________________

Address : A&B, G/F, 2 Austin Avenue, Tsimshatsui, kowloon
Time : 11pm til late

__________________________________________________

The Night of Fusion but not Confusion

2006-06-15T13:21:00.000+08:00

_______________________________________________________

Address : IdNPRO Shop, 5-9 Gresson Street, Wan Chai, HK

Time : 9pm - 12pm

__________________________________________________________________

Underground 29 at The Edge

2006-06-03T21:12:00.000+08:00

-
-
-
-
-
Underground 29

Venue : The Edge

Date : 9 June 2006 (Friday)

Time : 8:30 pm

Bands : Hard Candy, Alok31G, An id Signal, System Kick

Address : G/F, 60 Wyndham St., Central

HK Magazine #628 - Interview

2006-05-26T19:04:00.000+08:00

Sound Of The City

HK Issue 628

By Alexandra Carroll and Adam White. Photos by Debby Hung.

Loud and Loving It

We talk to artists inspired by the sounds of our city.
Of course, not everyone thinks the city is too noisy. In fact, there are many people who revel in the soundscape of Hong Kong. Sebastian Seidel is the Artistic Administrator of Videotage, a new-media art collective operating out of the Cattle Depot in To Kwa Wan. Videotage supports new-media artists (film makers, digital animators and sound artists) by hosting exhibitions and performances. Its informal Friday night gatherings, The Rec Room series, have this month been focusing on sound artists and electronic musicians. With everything from the psychotic synthetic pop of Rainbowtron to improvisational performances by sound artists such as Magdalen Wong, Videotage has been loud and proud about Hong Kong noisemakers. Does Hong Kong make better sound artists because we have, well, so much more sound? “I guess it’s because we’re over-saturated,” says Seidel. “This place is so heavy with sounds and sights – people are used to having a multi-sensory experience.”

Alok Leung runs independent music label, Lona Records. Leung defines himself as a “real musician who just wanted to do something more experimental.” His last album, “Stalemate,” is a composition of quotidian sounds Leung recorded around his house (the hum of the air-conditioner, the sound of the fridge door opening) and mixed into tracks. Leung was inspired by the experimental music scene of Hong Kong in the 80s and early 90s when legends like Dickson Dee (who now runs the SoundAsia music label) and PNF were just getting started; “PNF were great – doing analogue stuff on their computers and then things like drilling into cans, hammering metal – all this really noisy stuff,” says Leung. “The didn’t worry about needing an audience. They just went out and made their music.” Leung’s three-year-old record label has already released nine CDs and has attracted experimental artists from the US, UK and Italy. Vince Li is one of the artists attached to Lona Records. Li does droning – holding notes together for a sustained period of time so that you can hear the harmonics. “When it lasts for a long time it gets you into this really weird headspace,” says Li. “You don’t need to take drugs because it’s a drug itself with its own energy and everything.” Li admits he found the noise of Hong Kong a bit overwhelming when he returned last year,

“It’s weird because you are overloaded with noise and it’s hard to distinguish different sounds,” says Li. “That’s the sound I’ve been trying to make with my droning– no matter where you are, the city throws back this drone sound at you.”

Sound artist and founder of experimental label Moneme, Cedric Maridet, won an award at last year’s Hong Kong Art Biennial for his sound and video installation, “Huangpu.” Consequently, he’s been asked by the Visual Arts Centre to run an open workshop starting in July, teaching students to become critical listeners as well as contributors to Hong Kong’s soundscape. Participants will go on soundwalks, a guided listening activity, and in the end, they’ll all make their own podcasts of their individual “acoustic ecologies” – their world in sound. “You can actually train your ear to listen better,” says Maridet. “Just go outside, focus on individual sounds, and you’ll hear things you’ve never noticed before.” While doing just that experiment with a friend in deep Wan Chai, Maridet was surprised to hear a church bell peeling above the hum of Johnston Road, “It’s more of an attitude of listening that you have to develop.” For the really brave and experimental, Videotage’s Seidel suggests a more dangerous but certainly more effective method: “I’m sure that if you close your eyes, you could find your way through this city just by listening – by acoustic orientation.” Give it a go. A few near-fatal accidents should sharpen your senses pretty quickly.

http://www.asia-city.com

Baubaus Workshop Party

2006-04-28T15:14:00.000+08:00

Baubaus Workshop Party Sebastian Baubaus Workshop PartyBaubaus Workshop PartyBaubaus Workshop PartyBaubaus Workshop PartyBaubaus Workshop Party Sebastian'29 Baubaus Workshop PartyBaubaus Workshop Party 29 Baubaus Workshop PartyBaubaus Workshop PartyBaubaus Workshop PartyBaubaus Workshop PartyBaubaus Workshop Party Sebastian'29 Baubaus Workshop PartyBaubaus Workshop PartyBaubaus Workshop PartyBaubaus Workshop Party

This is my second 3"cdr "Stalemate" (also limited 50 copies)

2006-04-09T18:25:00.000+08:00

-

Release date : 24 April 2006

This is the most experimental work ever , Stalemate is my 2nd release in this 3"cdr series.
File Under : Electronic, Clicks n' cuts, Avant Garde
-
TRACKLISTING :
01. Stalemate re-configured (5:35)
02. Hard reset (6:42)
03. Discarding your White Napkin Records (0:43)
04. Digital dweller (2:02)
05. Now is as good a time as any to listen again (3:26)
-
Demo Submissions
-
http://lona-records.blogspot.com/2006/01/demo-submissions.html

YMCA Live Band Show :『當我們還可以珍惜時』音樂會

2006-03-16T13:16:00.000+08:00

-
表演樂隊中不約而同有多位90年代出頭的樂隊成員再走在一起或栽培新血創造更新更動人心弦的音樂。
-
Hardpack 近來也新加入了前Anodize的阿肥，深信更能推前他們勁力十足的音樂更能震懾全場。
新晉樂隊The Dummy則被Primary Shapes甚為賞識及栽培力薦努力大玩飄渺音樂。
the Darlings的吉他及主唱小邦曾是獨立樂隊Love Motel、Kind People等的主音吉他手，低音吉他手Gary曾是香港傳奇Hardrock樂隊Jackal's Dream的成員。
人頭馬四成員中有前AMK的關勁松和另一獨立創作人Alok。
Dear Jane除了有分別從美國及加拿大學成返港的Tim、Adam和Howie，也有本地薑Sanskrit的Jackal。
-
日期Date : 21/4/06 ( Friday)
時間Time : 7:45pm
地點Venue : 尖沙咀港青四樓禮堂 ( 香港文化中心對面 )
Bands : Hardpack + The Dummy + the Darlings + 人頭馬 + Dear Jane
-
*場刊更有樂隊／音樂人獨家客席投稿及場外將售賣獨立自資出版的CD．　
門票Tickets : $50 ( 全日制學生 ) , $70 ( 其他人士 )
-
Outlets:
港青( 尖沙咀MTR E出口) / Zoo Records / the PANIC(太子) / 阿貓地攤
-
(本活動由油尖旺區議會及YMCA Young Entrepreneurs Incubation Fund部份資助)
( 由“九音陣”及zyzzvya union youth band societies @ 港青協助製作 )
查詢 : Sandy 22687714 / 73025633 / sandychan@ymcahk.org.hk / www.s-o-f-a.org
-

The Very Last Show In Amnesia Ever !

2006-03-09T19:34:00.000+08:00

FRIDAY, MARCH 10th... a chilled out, laid back acoustic night featuring the Shotgun She Ras, Natural City, Don Alguire and a few members of The Academy. They'll be there to tickle your earlobes with their favourite country/folk songs. Doors open at 9 bells and there's no admission charge for this event. Bring yer cowboy boots!!

SATURDAY, MARCH 11th... will be a little bit louder! Lamma hippies will be pleased to know that island rockers Garoupa will be causing some noise on this glorious night! They will be joined by local Japanese experimentalists Very Ape...who have an even more cuddly bass player than we do!!

FRIDAY, MARCH 17th... if you're interested in shoegazing, stoner rock music...this is the night for you! This night will feature the always entertaining Malfunction, the heavy rockin Hardpack and one of the best local rock bands out there...Aloks 31G...who will be making their first appearance at Amnesia since early 2005!!

SATURDAY, MARCH 18th...THE LAST NIGHT!! This night will be the kicker!! Amnesia's last night as a club...ahhhh the memories! This is what it all boils down to...three bands...one stage, and lots of beer! We have some great bands playing to celebrate this evening too! One of HKs longest running rock bands False Alarm will play, as well as new-to-the-scene rockers The Quays will join us. The third band...some punks that like to call themselves The Academy.

From the Toronto Undergroundexpress

2006-02-23T13:11:00.000+08:00

Alok - Logan's Run

Alok - All the Lovebirds are Dead Silent

Alok Leung is a guy from Hong Kong who seems know the island’s indie music scene like the back of his hand (a modern James Murphy if you will, except steeped in the current musical climate rather than the old rusty canon, though I'm sure he’s familiar with that too). Maybe this is why his own music is so eclectic and all over the place (he is also the owner of Lona records). Calling himself simply Alok, so far there have been two albums; 2001’s 31 Minutes to Midnight and 2005’s 29 Minutes From the End. The later contains some pretty cool videos on a bonus DVD and guest spots by a smorgasbord of underground Hong Kong talent, which gives each song a distinct flava. You can get em both at Monitor records, or if you like to window shop, go here.

“Logan’s Run” is a mammoth krautrock song (aren’t they all) masquerading in the land of shoegaze with the vocals upfront and deadpan, while “All the Lovebirds are Dead Silent” is a beautiful instrumental piece featuring some very poignant guitar work, I must say. Lona is also putting out a series of 3” CD singles exploring music described by them as “avant-garde,” “electro-acoustic,” and “free jazz.” Don’t all of you go clicking on that link at once, now.

If you know who doesn’t beat me to it, expect to see some HYPE SHIT from Load real soon. [edit: aha ha, they already have, and the exact song too!]

http://theundergroundexpress.blogspot.com/

Mind Your Head 0304 - Alternative II

2006-02-02T00:38:00.000+08:00

-
日期Date : 04/03/2006
時間Time : 7:30
樂隊Band : Alok 31G , Albino , Fruitpunch , NAZZY ,
Montage(蒙馱奇) , My Stoned Playground , Snoblind ,
Sarasvati
-
票價Price : $50(walk-in only)
地點Venue : IMNet
地址Address:新蒲崗五芳街八號利嘉工業大廈四樓 C-D室
Room C-D,4/F,Lee Ka Industrial Building,No.8 Ng Fong Street,Sham Po Kong
連絡Contact: Aiko:62270651 / Kimi:96416775
-
地圖Map:http://www.imnet.org/image/map.gif
-

燃燒的噪音 (當代中國地下音樂評集)

2006-01-26T13:47:00.000+08:00

-
絕對值得留意的作品 !!!! highly recommended !!!
-
作者：顏峻/著

出版社：破週報

出版日期：2005 年 05 月 15 日

語言類別：繁體中文

-
作者簡介：資深大陸樂評人、詩人、音樂/及藝術活動策展人，曾經營Sub Jam網路品牌，長期推廣大陸地下樂圈之文化觀察，以打破流行、搖滾、實驗、隨筆、學術、評論之跨領域為文本重點。內容簡介：作者近年來之樂評、訪問、現場手札、樂人介紹、音樂文化現象等綜合性短文集結。

www.pots.com.tv

CD Singles Review on MCB online (LWTV/Dive)

2006-01-17T13:49:00.000+08:00

Text : 袁智聰
-
Post Date : 2006-01-16

-
Alok自家廠牌Lona Records的3” CD-R單曲系列出品陸續有來，第二、三張出品，乃分別屬於LWTV和Dive這兩個音樂單位。
-
LWTV是Vince這位從加拿大返港的年輕樂手之化身，現為人頭馬的結他手。對他影響最為深遠，是傳奇性紐約樂團The Velvet Underground，而他也是一名Suicide的超級擁躉，同時前衞樂手Tony Conrad的電小提琴演奏亦帶給他莫大的啟蒙。LWTV的音樂，亦流露著他強烈的Avant-Rock風骨。
-
他為3” CD-R單曲系列帶來的Put On The Headphone And Turn To 10，兩首曲目是Vince去年2月收錄於加拿大的現場演出片段，除了Vince之外還有其音樂拍擋Bob Brown負責演奏他的自製低頻樂器Discordia及敲擊。
-
長達十一分鐘的Beast Of The East Rises With Fall Of The West，泛著是宛如The Velvet Underground的迷幻崩壞結他演奏，Bob的Discordia與敲擊，讓樂曲來得活像祭禮音樂的狀態，盡是破爛非常的Avant-Rock美學。要領教他的電小提琴功架，則可在We’ll Do Another Drone此曲中尋見，迷魂的Off-Key電小提琴Droning在空氣中停不了的迴盪，再次是一首像毒品般的樂章。
-
相比之下，Dive的Deconstructed Piano便比較平易近人得多。
-
Dive是一名現居於美國華盛頓港人樂手，跟LWTV為大相徑庭，是他的音樂乃以鋼琴作主導——或者那可以形容為一種Electronica鋼琴音樂。
-
在Deconstructed Piano裡帶來的六首簡短樂章，那仿如二十世紀的Avant-Garde樂派鋼琴樂曲遇上廿一世紀的簡約Glitch電音配套，原音與電音的交配。像Drop或False Notes那破落的鋼琴旋律，便很有二十世紀現代作曲家作品的風貌。最重要是在Dive作品裡的簡約而輕盈樂韻間，彷彿呈現著一份可教人動容的真善美。
-
http://www.mcb.com.hk/online2/article/article.php?did=3&aid=268

The 5th Element 2006 Live Gig (update)

2006-01-03T21:32:00.000+08:00

"The 5th Element"自2005年10月推出以來，相信大家已聽過35隊音樂勁旅的歌曲，見識到他們的實力。想現場親身體驗各樂隊的魅力嗎？
-
2006年1月89268誠意邀請你出席The 5th Element Live Gig！！
-
The 5th Element - Live Gig
Date: 21/01/2006 (Sat)
Time : 18–23pm
Venue : G/F, HITEC, Kowloon Bay.
Ticket: $ 60Ticket+CD: $145
All tickets include FREE beer
-
Bands :
18:10 陽溢
18:30 Malfunction
18:50 The Lovesong
19:10 The Pliable
19:30 Fama
19:50 野良犬
20:10 Ghost Style
20:30 The Doof
20:50 Innisfallen
21:10 Downer
21:30 OLIVER
21:50 UNiXX
22:10 咖啡因公園
22:30 Aloks 31G
22:50 The Darlings
23:10 Mazar
23:30 Fruitpunch
-
Tickets are now available at the PANIC & the PANIC 2
the PANIC 2/F, 226 Sai Yeung Choi Street South, Mongkok 23962608
the PANIC 2 Shop A, 2/F, Hong Kong Arts Centre, 2 Harbour Road, Wanchai 35986218
-
Organised by 89268
Special Thanks: Beck’s
-
更多詳情請繼續留意此網誌 http://the-5th-element.blogspot.com/

HK Magazine - The Best Of Local Music 2005

2005-12-30T12:47:00.000+08:00

-
1. VA - Xiang Gang Electric Vol.1 (Love Da Records)
2. Alok - 29 Minutes From The End 29。跋 (Lona Records / 89268)
3. VA - The 5th Elements (89268)
4. Elf Fatima - Elf Fatima ( Elf Fatima)
5. The Academy - The Academy
-
http://www.asia-city.com/index.php

維港風濕聖誕夜 Harbour Thumbs Up X'mas

2005-12-20T12:25:00.000+08:00

藝穗會主辦Fringe Club Presents : 維港風濕聖誕夜 Harbour Records Thumbs Up X'mas Gig

23/12 咖啡因公園Cafe'inn Park、Wilson Tsang、The Yours、Fantastic Day、Band Band、胡椒貓Pepper Cat (台灣)〔Taiwan〕
24/12 22Cats、my little airport、False Alarm、在草地上JoyTrendySound、人頭馬HumanHead Horse、Thumbs Up Band
地點Place ：藝穗會(Fringe Club)
時間Time ：晚上十時半 (10:30pm)
票價Price ：每晚九十大元〔包你飲料一杯) $90 each night〔included 1 standard drink〕
憑票可於現場換領【維港聖誕袪濕紀念珍藏金曲鐳射唱片】一大張，祝你來年豐收風騷唔風濕！
Everyone who brought the ticket will get a "Harbour Thumbs Up" CDslamper in the show.
查詢熱線Enquiry：95597916

Review on 3" Single by MCB online

2005-12-12T13:12:00.000+08:00

Text : 袁智聰
-
Alok為其Lona Records策動這個限額發行3” CDR系列，目的是以此主打偏鋒實驗音樂創作之平台。他以其作品All The Colors Of The Dark / Electrosuite作為打頭陣的開卷作，固然「以身作則」——所以前者已是一首足足長達十六分鐘的Epic曲目。

-
不再是近年Alok所熱衷的Shoegazer曲風，All The Colors Of The Dark的創作大前提，是他試圖重拾他在Slow Tech Riddim時期那種不受常規羈絆、處於不斷蛻變中的音樂鋪排。多年前已得悉Alok對一眾現代派鋼琴音樂為情有獨鍾，在All The Colors Of The Dark裡其音樂好友Wilson Tsang主理的鋼琴演奏亦佔有相當重要的角色。

樂曲開首時從他那仿如早年Electro-Acoustic樂派的倒播與Tape Loop效果到Wilson一手耐人尋味的Contemporary派鋼琴，都來得滿是二十世紀Avant-Garde音樂之基因。直至三分多鐘後，隨著假以亂真Free-Jazz式鼓擊Driven切入(Alok說單是此曲的Drum Programming已足足砌了兩個月)，在輾轉反側的電聲氛圍下，Wilson亦繼而施展出他的Free-Form爵士鋼琴風範。一首十六分鐘的曲目，那好比要一口氣對Avant-Garde、Electro-Acoustic、Avant-Jazz等等二十世紀前衛音樂派系進行Homage。

而Electrosuite更開宗明義是他的Electro-Acoustic式作品，接近Musique Concrete那種電音實驗。

This is the 1st of the 3"cdr singles series

2005-11-22T13:12:00.000+08:00

Release Date : 9th December 2005
Only Available at : Monitor Records / The Panic / Zoo Records
Limited edition : 50 numbered copies

TRACKLISTING :
1. All the colors of the dark 16"15
2. Electrosuite 01:16

「向上世紀avant-garde/electro-acoustic/free-jazz音樂的終極致敬。」
----袁智聰 (MCB Online)

"The ultimate tribute to avant-garde/electro-acoustic/free-jazz in the last century."
----Yuen Chi Chung (MCB Online)

2005-11-19T14:58:00.000+08:00

Art SUPERMART 歡樂滿啦

(Para/Site 藝術空間 Art Space Fundraising Events)

Live improvisation from Wilson Tsang and Alok Leung

Date : 9 December 2005 (Friday)

Time : 7 pm

Venue : Para/Site 藝術空間: 上環普仁街四號

Para/Site 藝術空間將舉行一年一度的籌款活動 ArtMart 2005 ，為這個已有十年歷史的非牟利獨立視覺藝術團體籌募經費，以協助推動香港當代藝術的發展。本年度的 ArtMart 將會由藝術拍賣、歡樂滿啦派對及兩個展覽組成。

-
十二月九日（星期五）晚上六時起，你可以在 Para/Site 藝術空間的「歡樂滿啦」以港幣二千元的價錢，購買件件由多位不同香港藝術家精心創作的藝術品。其中不少作品實屬罕有，是平時沒有機會購買，在特別的展覽或藝術館內才會出現的藝術品。「歡樂滿啦」中所出售的作品將會於十二月五日起在 Para/Site 藝術空間展出。
-

9 December 2005 at 6pm (Event continues through 11 December)
Para/Site Art Space is delighted to present ArtMart 2005 , the auction and sale of artworks of emerging and established artists living and working in Hong Kong. ArtMart consists of two events: first, the Art Auction at 1/5 on Thursday, 10 November and the ArtSupermart on Saturday, 10 December. All proceeds from this fundraising campaign will go directly to support Para/Site's work in fostering the visual arts in Hong Kong.

At the ArtSupermart at Para/Site Art Space (9 December 2005, Friday from 6pm onwards) you will be able to purchase pieces of artworks from various Hong Kong artists at a flat rate of HK$ 2000 per piece – artworks which you would normally not have the chance to purchase, let alone with such a bargain! These artworks are donated for sale as a gesture from the artists in supporting Para/Site Art Space. Come and discover the surprises that Hong Kong artists have created for us. A preview exhibition of the works featured in the ArtMart will be held at Para/Site Art Space from 7 December 2005.ArtMart will be a great opportunity for all to view and bid on the inspiring and amazing artworks on display, to meet artists collaborating with Para/Site, and to mingle with fellow art-lovers. The event will certainly make for enjoyable evenings.

Para/Site Art Space:

G/F, 4 Po Yan Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

enquiry : 2517-4620

Upcoming 3"cd singles series

2005-11-18T12:57:00.000+08:00

This is a 3" CDR series produced by lona to explore the literary aspects of experimental sound . Each volume will feature works by individual artists in a 3" CDR or 3" DVDR and will be released in a limited numbered edition of 50 to 100 ... (detail)

AM Post issue 19 (Nov)

2005-11-16T21:48:00.000+08:00

Endless running
Text/Clare Tyrrell

The music video for “Logan’s Run” flashes on the screen: a band-room filled with guitarists and bassists and a vocalist—it’s hard to tell if it’s a man or a woman. The scene flashes from black and white to psychedelic colours, as the shots capture the fingers of the musicians and then switches to the silhouette of a man, running, endlessly running.

Welcome to the inner mind of Alok, one of Hong Kong’s most talented guitarists and songwriters. This is a music video from his new album “29 Minutes from the End” and it is telling of how the artist has never stopped running in his quest to create new sonic landscapes and technologies. It is also telling of his new pursuit of the visual elements to music-making.

“29 Minutes from the End” was released earlier this year, and received rave reviews from the press. Keen to find out more about this fascinating Hong Kong artist, I track him down for an interview to discuss his new album, and find him in the Tsim Sha Tsui bar, once known as Chemical Suzy. He sits in a dark corner with a pint of beer, lighting up a cigarette and looking completely different from everyone else in the bar: maybe it’s the scraggy goatee on his chin, the shaved head and thick black-rimmed glasses. Most likely it’s the manic gleam in his eyes and the way he attracts attention from natural charisma. After the initial “hellos” and ordering of drinks, he gets up, and wanders over to the bar, handing them a CD of his new album and asking if they can play it now. It comes onto the speakers with “You Are Always in My Prayers”, a hypnotic introduction of guitars and driving drums that opens the work.

Those who are familiar with the indie band scene of Hong Kong will be very familiar with Alok. He first emerged in the band scene more than a decade ago with the “shoegazing” band Pillow. Then, in 1997 he formed the electronic outfit Slow Tech Riddim with Kim Lam—who had formerly been the drummer with Pillow. The pair released two albums with the People Mountain People Sea label, which were highly experimental journeys into a fusion of dance and guitar noise. “After we released the second album, we came across some problems,” explains Alok of the duo’s eventual split. “Kim wanted to make non-beats, music without beats, but I found this hard to do.”

Being a natural rock’n’roller, in 2001 Alok stepped his life as a solo artist. His first release “Wahoo” set out to destroy people’s preconceptions of his music. “People at the time thought I only played electronic music, but I wanted to be rock’n’roll, with a lot of guitar noise and vocal stuff,” he reminisces. “So my first album had a lot of new sounds. It was pretty melodic.”

Here was an album which showed the musician’s maturity and his sheer songwriting finesse. He was also beginning to tell a tale with the album’s structure. “I wanted to say something with my music with this second album,” he explains with a gulp of his pint. “I wanted to tell a story, a sad story. Making an album is very different from composing songs. You have to arrange all the music.”

In the funky bar “29 Minutes from the End” plays out into the night air. It rocks the sound system, lending an atmosphere of tension, then building up to climaxes of guitars and drums. The album picks up from where his second album “31 Minutes to Midnight” drops off. “I really love numbers. I love dates,” he says skirting the question of the significance of the title. “This is like a continuation of the story,” he adds. “Now we’re only 29 minutes away from the end…” The fourth track “Letting Me off the Happiness” comes on and Alok reminisces the recording of this slow, melodic track. Surging with beauty, it is powerfully emotive and winds in mysterious circles. “I remember when we recorded it in the studio, I only did this once. Because that day I had drunk a lot and when you listen carefully the beat gets completely lost. The beat is out of beat,” he explains with a cackling laugh.

One of the personality traits of Alok, and a reason why he is so utterly rock’n’roll is the way he pushes the extremes of existence and is a natural rebel—albeit a soft-speaking and very polite one in the flesh. This comes out in his music which pushes the listener into new audio ground. His newest release is like a soundtrack to the indie scene of Hong Kong. It is truly representative of the new direction of the band scene because no less than five talents of the band scene lend their influence on vocal tracks. These include the likes of Sean from the band Unixx, singer Lawwaiyip, the renowned rapper Ghoststyle and singer Mabel from the band JoyTrendySound.

“First I do the backing track, then whatever they feel like they do, I want to make some types of crossover. I have some patterns and just allow them free form,” says Alok of the creative process involved. The creativity also extends to a set of bonus features that come with the album including a 50-minute feature film “Slavery Techniques” by the director Domting which Alok provided the soundtrack to. “The film is really important to me,” says Alok. “For me it’s the first soundtrack I’ve done and some songs in ‘31 Minutes’ are based on the film.”

There are also three music videos accompanying the album, including the utterly fantastic “Logan’s Run”. It’s a particularly creative offering, and it really sees the artist coming into his own turf. But with a swig of beer in the Tsim Sha Tsui bar, he shakes his head to any praise and says it’s no big deal. “We just wanted to make something happen,” he says with a grin. “I wanted to make myself better. Play the music I love.”

schnee-von-morgen (update)

2005-11-03T19:51:00.000+08:00

My special feature about my new album and past work introduced on this German on-line radio

here is the link :
http://www.schnee-von-morgen.de/futurama

Wiederholung: 19.Nov.2005 – 1-3 Uhr

Diesen Samstag wird soap sich durch verschiedene Stile mixen und aktuelle Platten vorstellen. Dazu gibt's Neuigkeiten aus dem Musikbusiness. Es stehen unter anderem Plattenbesprechungen von Annies neuer DJ-Kicks, Playhouses „Famous when dead IV"-Compilation und der neuen DFA von The Juan MacLean an. Das neue Album von Recloose „Hiatus on the horizon" ist endlich draußen und wird sich im Vergleich mit dem Debutalbum „Cardiology" beweisen müssen. Außerdem wird Alok, eine sehr versatile Elektronikband aus Hong Kong, die eben ihr neues Album „29 Minutes from the end" veröffentlich haben, ein kleines Special abbekommen und ihr bisheriges Schaffen vorgestellt werden.

Repitition 19. Nov. 2005 - 1 to 3 o'clock am

Saturday, SOAP is going to present new albums and mix all the different styles. And there will be more news from the music-biz coming up.To name just a few, we are going to talk about Annie's new 'DJ-Kicks',Playhouse's 'Famous When Dead IV'-compilation and the new DFA by The Juan MacLean.Then, Recloose's new album 'Hiatus on the Horizon' made it finally out of the studio, which we will compare to their debut 'Cardiology'.Furthermore, we will feature Alok in a special. Alok is very versatile Electro-Band from HongKong who just published their new album '29 Minutes from the End', and we will take a closer look on their pastworks and discography.

.............................................................

Sat. 12.11.05 – TRACKLIST :

01. BoC – Hey Saturday sun
02. BoC - Into the rainbow vein
03. BoC – Peacock tail (dark)
04. BoC - ’84 Pontiac Dream
05. Alok – We were leaving in a park
06. Alok – Fisematenten
07. Alok – Like an angel the role model
08. Masha Qrella – I can’t tell my day (Bus Rmx)
09. Mouse on Mars – Disdusk
10. Mia – Sunshowers
11. Spanqbizz – Abbaddon
12. Spanqbizz – Theme
13. Spanqbizz – Smile Latenight
14. Recloose – Still beyond me
15. Recloose – Dust
16. Recloose – Ain’t changin’
17. Recloose – Up and Up
18. Recloose – Kaipiti Dreams
19. Recloose – M.I.A.
20. Recloose – Time is on your side
21. Fat Freddys Drop – Cay’s Cray
22. Fat Freddys Drop – Wandering Eye
23. Fat Freddys Drop – Flashback
24. ESG – Your love for me
25. Datarock – Fa Fa Fa
26. Zongamin – Bongo Song
27. Zwicker – Make Up

Xiang Gang Electric CD Release Party

2005-10-28T21:54:00.000+08:00

Live performance: Tszpun, DJ Yin, Rexx, Punchy Lin,
Chris Har, The Kita, the Demos
special guest Alok
DJ: Ko Kimura, John Li
VJ: Alpha
Venue: Grappa’s Cellar, Jardine House, Central
Date: 19 November 2005
Time: 10:00pm start
Price: $230 advance, $260 at door
Ticket available at HMV, Enquiry: 2868 3307

10:30pm the Demos
11:00pm Punchy / Chris Har / The Kita
11:30pm Alok
12:00am Tszpun
12:30pm DJ Yin / Rexx

Rockit Audition -- wea reth ehost ingb and

2005-10-28T21:53:00.000+08:00

Heineken presents Play at Rockit! - with featured guest bands.
Venue : Corner Pub & karaoke
Shop B, G/F Hon Kwok TST Centre, 5-9 Observatory Court, TST.
尖沙咀天文臺道5-9號地下B舖
Date : 4 November 2005 (Friday)
Time : 10:30pm

Alok 31G
Band Band
Zodiac
Downer
Siq

our new feedbacker line-up :
Lawwaiyip (the doof) - vocal , guitar
Sean (UNiXX) - vocal
Kei (Luxury) - bass
Simon (Luxury) - drum
Alok - guitar

Songlist :
1. Harsh hash
2. 窗廉背面 shade shades
3. Letting me off the happiness
4. Going down
5. Digging my own grave
6. Warsaw (31G)

--------------------------------------

Venue : A/T Bar
Basement 6A, Hart Avenue, T.S.T.
尖沙嘴赫德道6A 地庫
Date : 3 November 2005 (Thu)
Time : 9:00pm

UNiXX
Rusty Cross
Luke Chow
Airtub
Partyolk

The 5th Element

2005-10-17T01:08:00.000+08:00

----------------------------------------------------

cd 1
01. 民藝復興@852 - 人啊人 (2005 Free Mix)
02. elf fatima - 默哀前的6 分鐘
03. The Darlings - Wet Dream
04. 野良犬 – 死錯
05. Alok - Ok Sue 無睡
06. The Pliable - Film Maker (Worst Film Version)
07. Downer - Silence
08. UNiXX - Perfect Betrayer
09. malfunction – flowerdrit
10. Wilson Tsang - End Of The Road
11. THE LOVESONG – World has collided
12. OLIVER - 蘆葦枯乾
13. 陽溢 - 恐怖襲擊
14. 沼澤 - 潛行於偏見的軌道上 (Live)
15. 恭碩良 - I'm still Alive

cd 2
01. stealstealground - disappearing on your map
02. mazer - 下一個…
03. CMgroovy -太陽下，我們向明天狂奔
04. 方欣浩 - 需要 / 不需要
05. Simone – Farewell Hater
06. inLove – 誰在等我 Confusing (Ghost Style Remix)
07. starfruit - So what did you get, loser?
08. 壞碑唇 - 慾海慈航 (come out and play Remix)
09. 農夫 - 十七年華
10. Ghost Style –What's Going On
11. 2 & 2 are One - moonshine
12. Auctave - Love Ain't And the Answer
13. 咖啡因公園 - 搜尋
14. Fruitpunch - Game of the Few
15. Innisfallen - Of A Beautiful Soul
16. the doof – are you expecting me?
17. 黃湛熙 – I am not happy
18. revolver – RIP
19. WEEKEND – trivia
20. Echo –Please Stay

the 5th element
25.10.2005
stop terrorism
the 5th element blog http://the-5th-element.blogspot.com/

2005-10-14T23:14:00.000+08:00

The Train , Aloks 31G

Date: 15th Oct. 2005
Time: 10:30 pm
Venue: Fringe Club
2 Lower Albert Road , Central ,.
Hong Kong (MTR Central Exit D2)
Fee: $80 (include 1 drink)
Enquiry : 25217251

完

2005-10-05T20:02:00.000+08:00

89268 - Live Gig Series #4

2005-09-27T14:11:00.000+08:00

Live Gig Series #4

600分鐘獨立音樂接力

Date :2005.10.01

Time :16:00-02:00

Venue :HITEC 九龍灣國際展貿中心地下

Ticket: $80 (全日通行)門票

即日開始於 the PANIC 及the PANIC 2 發售

--------------------------------------------

包括：auctave / Aloks 31G / Downer / Elf Fatima /

False Alarm / Fashionista / Ghost Style / Glitter /

Goodmorningloria / innisfallen / inLove / malfunction /

Mazer / My Little Airport / OLIVER / Revolver /

Simone / SuperDay / The Darlings / The Doof /

The Pliable / UNiXX / 方欣浩 / 拾豆豆 / 秋紅 /

恭碩良 / 野良犬 / 假音人......

one of my best and serious gig i played , thanks Mondialito and all the people who came this great show

2005-09-22T23:16:00.000+08:00

foto by Rick and SötKanin

2005-08-30T19:18:00.000+08:00

Mondialito Live in Hong Kong

Supporting Act : UNiXX
Date : 2005 / 09 / 17 (Sat.)
Time : 20:00 Venue : On & On Theatre Workshop
Address : Unit 7, Cattle Port Artist Village ,
63 Ma Tau Kok Road , To Kwa Wan , Kln , HK
前進進戲劇工作坊 ,
香港九龍土瓜灣馬頭角道63號牛棚藝術村7號 Ticket : $180
---------------------------------------------------
將會負責bass的位置,而鼓手就由22Cats的亞科負責.
現在心情又緊張又很興奮....請多多支持,到時見

Aloks 31G + 沼澤 13.08.05 一觸即發

2005-08-02T23:43:00.000+08:00

HK X GZ 香港 X 廣州
火花一觸即發歷史性第一次

Supporting opening act : The Yours

日期 Date: 2005.08.13 (星期六)
時間 Time: 2100
地點 Venue: HITEC 九龍灣國際展貿中心地下
(可乘搭九龍灣地鐵站免費接駁巴士)
Hongkong International Trade & Exhibition Centre
1 Trademart Drive, Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong.
票價 Ticket: $80, $120(CD+Ticket)

門票即日於PANIC及PANIC 2有售

more details : http://www.89268.com/

out take

2005-07-28T21:49:00.000+08:00

最新作品暫名為 " OK Sue 無睡 " , 被收錄於一張將會出版的
compilation內 , 此作品是來自新大碟29。跋內之未發表作品 ,
現正進行後期製作當中,這首作品應該比29。跋內的更加嘈更加
noisnik ...

2005-07-22T19:24:00.000+08:00

因為鼓手 Paul 要回加拿大放暑假 , 所以今次邀請了 Luxury
的 Simon 當客席鼓手 , 新31G feedbacker 陣容如下 :
Lawwaiyip - The Pullover(guitar , vocal)
Voodoobee - Elf Fatima (bass)
Sean - UNiXX (vocal , guitar)
Simon - Luxury (drums)
Alok (guitar)
and more special guests ...

BC magazine interview

2005-07-15T20:33:00.000+08:00

new disko

2005-07-07T13:11:00.000+08:00

disko finished ! ------->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

2nd single 窗簾背面

2005-06-28T13:29:00.000+08:00

second single from the album "29 minutes from the end"
窗簾背面 (radio edit) (feat. Mable@ 在草地上) mp3

單身女子一張照片貼起告示途人可有發現
黑色襯衣水晶戒指月結單數字組織起故事
翻開報紙掹開較剪案件再現找不到暗示
失縱數天從沒人注意

最後一次見她在家裡看電視
自晚上上班一去後音訊杳然
直至某天清早她的公司來電
但旅行證件安放在鏡台前面
前面鏡台前面 (x4)

這個家習慣不多說話
沈默替代對答
像啞巴啞忍一言不發
父親早出晚返
女兒剛剛相反
晚飯各自各已維持數年
不見亦若無其事

第四度家訪
窗外正是日落
窗簾背面站著一個動也不動
女子身影

US Outright

2005-06-25T15:57:00.000+08:00

今天啱啱收到一隻來自美國的DVD 名為Outright , 早幾個月前此短片

的導演Amy Caron已通知會用我的音樂作為這套短片的background

music , 十分期待的終於收到 , 令我十分興奮的除了自己有份參與

外 , 原來還有我其中一隊喜愛的The Rachels 同Mouse On Mars ,

如大家有興趣可到以下網址
http://www.amycaron.com/
check check啦! <<< 好似落ad咁,sorry!

Outright is an experimental documentary that investigates the

modern feminist movement by combining found footage ,

historical audio text ,performance , and photography

to suggest that society has an unethicaldesire to promote the

underdevelopment of women. By featuring theremarkable

achievements of inspirational women, Outright aims toserve

as a catalyst through which people will reevaluate and

transformtheir preconceived ideas on the aptitude of

women in all arenas.Created by Amy Caron
www.amycaron.com
original compositions by Alex Haworth
Guitar performance : Mike Smith
Music by :Alok courtesy Lona Records ,

The Rachels courtesy Touch andGo Records ,

Mouse On Mars courtesy Sonig

никакое время не вышло

2005-06-25T15:54:00.000+08:00

唱片推出之後做了些訪問 , 但很多訪問當中都不太熟識同熱衷的 ,
因對於一個不酒不說話的人來說,這是幾辛苦的 , 尤其是有些訪問
都在早上做的 , 很不習慣 , 真的不知道怎樣去回笞才是好 , 而
問題通常都是那幾個 , 真不知怎樣才會表達自己對這張大碟的心情 ,
其實唱片內頁prelude已經一清二楚寫了出來.每件回憶得一次 ,
講得多只會令自己再記住那時刻 , 好像往事永都放不低 . 這個星期
又要為多項工作開始努力了 , 唱片推出後真的有點疲累了 , 無時間
了... 給自己一個星期的假期 , 其實只是想自己更忙錄更覺得自己
是一個都有些少用的人。上星期五有份表演那個由fringe club攪
的24小時馬拉松音樂會 , 晚上11:30看過鹹濕酸
(即是Dejay , CM , H仔 , Chris 同阿成的新組合) ,
OK OK 好! 之後就到我們31G表演 , 雖然這個line-up是第一次 ,
但這次信心十足 , 甚至看到台前的觀眾隨著我們音樂的起舞 , 令我們
玩得更加興奮 , 完畢後但自己其實還末平靜下來 , 但明早要返工只好離開吧。

非常非常期待下一個gig , 就是有份做The Pliable的supporting act ,
還有Revolver , Thanks Joel and 89268 again!

Alok 訪問@ pm 雜誌

2005-06-21T00:16:00.000+08:00

pm 雜誌alok 訪問經已出版!!

FRIDAY 訪問

2005-06-10T01:03:00.000+08:00

friday雜誌訪問出左勒!!
下星期在叱吒903間中都會聽到alok介紹隻碟啊!

coming gig on 17 june at fringe

2005-06-05T15:29:00.000+08:00

Time : 11:30pm
my 31G new feedbacker line-up :
Lawwaiyip -the pullover(guitar , vocal)
Voodoobee - elf fatima (bass)
Sean - UNiXX (vocal , guitar)
Paul - the academy (drums) and me (guitar)

see u soon

1st single digging my own grave

2005-06-05T14:42:00.000+08:00

first single from the album "29 minutes from the end"
digging my own grave 屈落下(feat. Sean @ UNiXX) mp3

I don’t know anything, I don’t care anything,
I don’t feel anything, nothing at all.
I don’t want anything, I don’t need anything,
I don’t have anything, nothing at all.

Phone call was disconnected you can’t hear my voice again.
When simple gets complicated I just do what I can.

Uncontrolled rebellion takes me all the way
To the land of violation meet the special K.

Hey! Don’t you know, don’t you know
I am digging my own grave?
Hey! let me go, let me go, let me go, let me

Let me go! Oh no, you made me sick,
I wanna do whatever I want.
Let me go! Oh no, please give me a break,
coz I have my own way to get on.

I don’t know anything, I don’t care anything,
I don’t feel anything, nothing at all.
I don’t want anything, I don’t need anything,
I don’t have anything, nothing at all.

Hey, don’t you know, don’t you know
I am digging my own grave?
Hey, let me go, let me go, let me go, let me

Let me go! Oh no, you made me sick,
I wanna do whatever I want.
Let me go! Oh no, please give me a break,
coz I have my own way to get on.
Let me go! Oh no, you made me sick,
I wanna do whatever I want.
Let me go! Oh no, please give me a break,
coz I have my own way to get on.

2005-06-03T15:21:00.000+08:00

launch party @ Amnesia

29 minutes from the end 最新消息

2005-05-31T17:26:00.000+08:00

六月三日正式面世!!!

2005-05-25T11:06:00.000+08:00

Prelude

2005-05-24T18:45:00.000+08:00

認識一個朋友往往令我得到一些思想上的改變,自己沒有信心堅持下去的,他就給我信心,亦都有給我放任, 自覺已是一個什麼都不知原因就去做的人, 知道好多朋友都發覺我是一個不知所謂的人,每天早上都記不起昨日又做了什麼什麼,永遠都總是找麻煩,以前做每件事都希望令身邊朋友開心,不希望給他們不快,但到最後都令他們失望, 知道自己沒有機會,記得那年秋天,充滿希望的片刻情景,現在 ______ 還記得 …

Knowing a friend could always trigger my new thoughts, whenever I lose fate of what I am doing, he will regain my confident and let me be untamed, turnout I am just a person who does things without any reasons. Knowing many of my friends think I am a dubious person, each morning can’t remember what I did last night, a person who only ask for troubles, back then I only did things just to make my friends happy, never want to upset them; end up always disappointing them. Knowing I will never have the chance, but still remember that year’s autumn, the moment of hope, that sweet moment still running through my head – even now…

2005-05-24T18:31:00.000+08:00

6月上市

2005-05-24T18:17:00.000+08:00

Tracklisting:
CD
1. you are always in my prayers (Just Tell Me When You've Forgotten Me) 如果上帝祈禱
2. harsh hash (feat.Lawwaiyip) 核
3. digging my own grave (feat. Sean@Unixx) 屈落下
4. letting me off the happiness 我冇笑
5. like an angel, the role model光明的未來
6. 窗廉背面 (feat. Mable@在草地上) shade shades
7. all the lovebirds are dead silent 死靜愛鳥
8. dead poet’s society (feat. Ghost Style) 暴雨驕陽 / 死亡詩社 / 春風化雨
9. logan’s run (feat. Justin) 廿三世紀大逃亡 (盧根跟)
10. goodbye

DVD
videos
logan’s run (feat. Justin) 廿三世紀大逃亡 (盧根跟) (directed by潘燚森)
featuring Novasy , My Little Airport and False Alarm
digging my own grave (feat. Sean@Unixx) 屈落下 (directed by潘燚森)
letting me off the happiness (Alok’s 31G) 我冇笑 (directed by domting)
blur the shot of the beach彼岸失焦 (directed by divine)
we were just leaving in a park離棄好年華 (directed by domting)
shadow of your soul暗角邃念 (directed by 關勁松 / axe wong)
7 years to wait for七載冀待 (directed by潘燚森)
remember to forget憶記以懷忘 (directed by myself)

remixes
wahaha – robotoca
7 years to wait for七載冀待 - mike meguire
what if we die @ 00:05 若我們死在零時五分 – sin:ned

bonus features 奴婢訓 Slavery Teachings : a short film by Domting and music by Alok