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TAIWAN FUN MAGAZINE, August 2003.

Cover Story :

@1976 Members: Lead singer, acoustic guitar: A-kai Guitar: Ta-ma Keyboard: A-kuang Bass: Tsu-chu Drum: Shiao-chiang (Tien-mei-hao, 666)

     Since it was founded in 1996, the band “1976” has always insisted on complete control in creating and performing. They have managed their band in their own way doing everything themselves. Their first self recorded album “1976,1” was released in 1999 in a limited quantity of 1000, which soon sold out. Their second album “Sense of Direction”, released in 2000, exhibited a more refined detail in the recording, arrangement, and production; the album was rated as one of the year’s best by Hong Kong’s Music Colony Magazine, The Musicmen Association, China Times, and Liberty Times.

In March of 2001, “1976” performed their Spring Concert at the Underworld. On the day of the performance, nearly a hundred loyal fans waited for hours in line in the rain. The eagerly anticipated third album “The Encouragement of Love” was released in July of 2001. The twelve diverse songs on the album were profuse and mature that left people awe stricken by the accomplishment of “1976”.

     After they finished recording “The Encouragement of Love”, the original drummer, Hikky, left the group and was replaced by Lin Yu-lin. It was during this time that guitarist Ta-ma, bass player A-Chih, and keyboard player A-kuang left to serve their military duties. A-kai and A-kuang became a two-man group, Stardust, creating music using computers and released an EP “Manroe Manroe”.
Public support brought “1976" back together for Formoz Festival 2003 with the official addition of bass player, Tsu-chu, and drummer, Shiao-chiang.

      This group of young men, born around 1976 and grew up in the 80’s, skillfully integrate the decadence and rock style of the 80’s into their stylistic psychedelic-folk, Brit-pop, electronic rock, Glam rock, and Modern Rock elements, accurately capturing the images of urban lifestyle. The lead singer A-kai’s uncanny grasp of words, notes and images has redefined the vernacular of the New Century youths. The image of the new generation rock poets are passed on through the rich music of “1976”. And because their work has struck such a cord in their listeners, they continue to garner considerable interest.

@Tizzy Bac Members: Keyboard, lead singer: Chen Hui-ting Bass: Hsu Che-yu Drum, percussion: Cheng Kai-tung

     The jazz style piano-rock group, Tizzy Bac, was formed in the spring of 1999, the year of the dragon. The three National Central University College of Liberal Arts students from Chungli instantly received great appraises in a music festival with their uniquely stylistic three-member band consisting only of keyboard, bass, jazz drum, no guitar, and the keyboard-lead singer’s beautiful and lethargic voice; it didn’t take long for the name “Tizzy Bac” to be known in the rock circle.

The group was chosen to perform at “Formoz Festival 2001” in 1999’s Spring Shout audition. In 2002, they won first prize at the Ho-Hai-Yan Indie Music Festival. The renowned jazz-folk rock artist, Cat Power, praised the group when he heard the group in early 2003 in Taiwan, saying: “ She (Tizzy Bac’s lead singer, Hui-ting) has a powerful voice! I like it.” (Quoted from the Cat Power interview on POTS.)       On March 1, 2003, the eagerly awaited first album of Tizzy Bac, “Anything Can Tempt Me”, was released. The compilation includes “Concession”, “Dear, baby where is my wing?” “Multiply”, “Anything Can Tempt Me”, ...ten of the group’s classic songs.

     Although some people have called Tizzy Bac Taiwan’s “Ben Folds Five”, the group does not wish to be boxed in. They want “to let each song have its own personality and to move forward with the birth of every song.” With that in mind, they continue to bring in elements that they like, have heard, have seen or have dreamt up, forming a style that is uniquely Tizzy Bac. The various elements of rock, electronic, and jazz can be seen alternating in their music.

      Tizzy Bac faces their music open and honestly: “In a world full of hypothetical questions, does the only certainly really exists?” “If everything is only a supposition, then even the warmest rhythm will not stop all the regret and helplessness. If that’s the case, open yourself to the toying by pianos, drums, and basses. Add to it, a rock, jazz, alternative and electronic farce. You say this is not rock, jazz, alternative or electronica, which is exactly the reason that makes it absurd. As is life.”

@echo Members: Lead singer, guitarist: Wu Po-Tsang Guitarist: Huang Kuan-wen Bass player: Chang Cheng-chung Drummer: YoYo Keyboard: Shipy

     Interestingly enough, the group ECHO was formed in order to sing in pubs for the purpose of making some extra money for the summer. The band’s name is taken from Tsing Hua University’s Echo Club; aside from the fact that the band members are all also members of the club, the word also reflects their grasp and idea of the ideal life style.

Their performances in pubs began with song renditions, mostly Brit-pop classics. Later, when the club received school funding, they created a simple recording room on campus and began writing their own songs. ECHO began to shift to performing their own songs and participated in many singing competitions. In June of 1996, their participation in Taiwan Rock Association sponsored “Rock the Wind City” event in Hsinchu caught Freddy’s attention. They were then invited to perform at Formoz Festival. In 2000, they performed at then newly opened Zeitgeist Live House. Slowly, they were seen at the Underground and occasionally at, the now closed, VIBE.

     In early 2000, ECHO uploaded some demo songs onto the Rockacola website. As a result, they met the lead singer of the band “1976”, A-kai, who gave them help and suggestions. It was also during this period that they met, at Zeitgeist Live House, the recording artist A-I, who gave the idea of recording an ECHO album. Things began to unfold.

They were invited to record the “Bare Voice Rock” compilation in 2000, and later, the “Youth Patriots” compilation with Taiwan Colors Music and Crystal Record’s “Tales of Collapsed Generation 2” compilation. They spent all their free time in their album’s recording, writing, arranging, finding inspiration and discussing their musical concepts and direction. The “To Control the Senses” album officially began recording in April of 2001 and did not finish until end of 2001 for sake of attaining perfection.

     The bandleader, Po-tsang, puts the band in the category of psychedelic-rock. The band was more Brit-pop with clear beats and emphasis on solo guitar. Now, he hopes for something more experimental, less of smooth rhythm flow, stressing on the mood created by the music and the feeling that it evokes in the listeners conveying the sense of feeling and mood.