Zhong Chi - Easy World 

It all begins with the artwork. Yes, artwork matters! The cover of Zhong Chi's album 'Easy World' depicts a little mermaid child which pretty much sums up the album's motive; to take you in the fairyland where unfulfilled wishes and aspirations might be realised, 'might' being the key word.

The journey begins with an otherworldly composition which welcomes you in this fairy world. I could envision the doors opening ! Not all the tracks grip on the first listen, but as it is with good music, the ones that take time to grow on you are the ones that remain fresh for a very long time. It's a bit like wine. 

Few of the tracks like 'Fairy tale ' and ' I can't hide' are unmistakeably love ballads of a melonchalic lover longing for an idealistic world. The chants of monks towards the latter part of the song 'I can't hide' instantly throws up images of ancient Chinese Monks and Samurais sitting togther for a prayer and a lovelorn lover looking at them with teary eyes.

This is one of those rare albums where the first track to the last one are woven like pearls in a thread , parts of a big whole where sum of the parts turn out to be bigger than , well it's parts. And yet each track stands on its own. It is a bit like watching a movie , just without knowing the plot. 

Some tracks melt in the ear more smoothly than the others and the mind is left to explore emotive imaginary worlds in the images conjured up by the sound. Primarily electronic-based, the songs evoke moods that only an epic movie with imaginary nostalgic tale could. The music is illuminated by the light of Zhong's blissful melodious voice which is sufficient to lit up the melonchalic dark but dreamy sounds . They range from the purely relaxing to the subtly intense, creating dreamlike and evocative musical journeys.

If there's someone whom I could relate this music to , it would be 'Amethystium' ; another brilliant project and one of a kind. Zhong Chi is at her best and if you do not fall in love with her after listening to these melodious and hypnotizing songs, there must be something wrong with you :p 

P.S. I wonder where Zhong Chi has disappeared after recording just one album! We need more music!   - Dev Arbikshe