Recording a musical ode to Taiwan

After a brief stint with indie label Crystal Records (水晶唱片), Zhang set out to explore the Taiwan he had been born in, but knew little about. With his songwriting prowess and off-center approach to music acting as his camera, Zhang traveled around the country documenting both the good and the bad, the colorful and the bland in a musical format.

During his journey Zhang penned a staggering 100 tunes. And while many of his adventures led him to places and into situations in which less pleasant aspects of life in Taiwan often manifested themselves, Zhang maintained his on-the-fence documentary-style line of thought.

This approach made him a lot of friends, but it did prove somewhat problematic, however, especially when he entered the recording studio. Not wanting to be categorized as a protest singer, Zhang steered clear of criticizing government policies, social values or society as a whole.

"Anyone can stand on a soapbox and let loose with a tirade about this or that," explained the singer-songwriter. "To make social comment without apportioning the blame might sound odd, but, hey, what's the point of pointing the finger at any one group or person when social problems are rarely, if ever, the fault of one individual."

More than just random tunes, the album's 10 numbers were written in order to document specific people, places and events and each tune carries with it its own story. Zhang's songs portray the everyday lives of Taiwan's people, regardless of social standing.

From the street vendor to the bourgeoisie and from the garbage truck to private automobile, the tunes are all gently persuasive yet at the same time rough and ready.

The musical styles Zhang incorporates are as varied as were many the people he met while compiling the album. At times Zhang's guitar oozes rock and sounds remarkably like that of Taiwan's much troubled heavy rock act, the Chairman, as on the opening track A-be's March (阿伯進行曲). On numbers such as Fool (憨大呆) it's the nakashi-laden refrains of traditional Taiwanese folk that ekes its way out of the sound system.

"I wanted to be as close to the street, so to speak, as is possible," he said. "I'd go and hangout with the people waiting for the garbage truck for hours in order to hear their voices. The idea was to meet as diverse a mix of people and hear as many differing ideas as was possible. And put the lot together in one very varied and unique package."