If A Moving Sound (AMS) was an animal it would be a fantastical creature that looked like no other. And unique is a good description of the group, which fuses traditional Taiwanese sounds with an experimental and international voice.
Formed around four-and-a-half-years ago in New York by the classically trained French horn player Scott Prairie and the experimental singer/songwriter Mia Hsieh (
"We could make cool music anywhere," Prairie said, "But what we have ended up with is a Taiwanese world music group. So, it's worked out great."
"What I like to do is get all these influences -- like Aboriginal music or nanguan or even beiguan -- then let the sound branch out of Taiwan, with central Asian, Indian and Mongolian influences." These are combined with Western, mainly new-age forms.
Two years ago AMS released its debut album Little Universe on the respected Taiwan Colors Music label and it has steadily been building its audience with tours around the world, most recently in Chicago, Toronto, Boston and New York.
The aim, Prairie said, is to be a Taiwanese band that is a fixture on the international world music touring circuit. Joining the couple on this journey are Taiwanese musicians and percussionists Alex Wu (
They are currently putting together a new album of material that will develop their sound further and emphasize traditional Chinese, Aboriginal and Taiwanese music.
Tonight's performance in Taipei will be special as Lonely Planet will be taping the show for its Six Degrees program on Taiwan, which will be broadcast in the summer.
In addition to Mia Hsieh's visual contributions as a singer and dramatist there will also be high-wire jinks from Cyrielle Perilhon, the French trapeze artist.
It promises to be an exciting multi-media event that will push the envelope of world music -- and possibly turn it inside out, according to Hsieh.
"It's rare for a group to do original world music, using Aboriginal or Hakka forms. But we go further because we have put together a new creative style that is multi-disciplinary. We put together old performance dramas and dance, melding it altogether. Actually, some of it is very ancient, but now it looks kind of contemporary."
AMS is at Red Theater (紅樓劇場), 10, Chengdu Rd, Taipei (台北市成都路10號), opposite Ximen MRT. The show starts at 7:30pm and you may telephone: (02) 2311 9380, or visit www.redplayhouse.com.tw for tickets, that are priced NT$400 in advance and NT$450 on the door. For more information contact Miss Tsai on (0918) 525 252 or go to www.amovingsound.com.
Finally, next month, Hsieh will be running voice and movement workshops and Prairie will be offering painting as a process of self exploration. Check their Web site for further details.
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