Album name: For Sale
Singer: Swing
Language: Cantonese
Year of release: 2001

This has got to be one of the more refreshing groups to emerge from the Hong Kong music scene recently. They are not your typical boy band nor are they your male version of 'Twins'. Comprising of duo Jerald and Eric, they are another product of this new wave of singer/songwriter 'phenomena'. There seems to be a very distinct Western influence in their music - there's a tinge of r&b, blues, jazz etc. Their music isn't what you would term mainstream and seriously because of that, I doubt they would be much of a big hit in the ever commercialised market that is Hong Kong - even though they did win some bronze award for being the most popular group at some music award show at the beginning of the year.

I was first introduced to Swing when their song, Half a Ticket, from their debut album, received heavy airplay on the local Chinese radio station here. That was when I diligently went searching for their album - which unfortunately is neither mainstream nor popular enough for most music stores to carry. Half a Ticket was an r&b affair and well, I've always been a sucker for other styles of music besides the normal cantopop fare.

Swing For Sale is a mixture of r&b, some blues and jazz. Their main track - and the one that I believe received the most radio airplay - Big Big Company is a swinging big band number. Catchy and with an infectious beat, it isn't hard not to like this particular piece at all.

On the whole, easy listening if you like something other than the usual cantopop.

Agree/disagree with my review? Drop a note in the guestbook.

<