The critically acclaimed double CD features extensive samplings of traditional material including nanguan, Hakka bayin, Mountain Songs, jianghu tunes (江湖調) once sung by itinerant artists, and the old folk number Three Peach Song (三桃調), which originated in Chishan (旗山), Kaohsiung County. The CD features tributes to legendary figures such as Chen Da (陳達) and Huang Ke-lin (黃克林) as well as the protest band Labor Exchange (交工樂隊).The rappers also collaborated with young musicians from diverse backgrounds such as R 'n' B band Quest of Soul, musician Li Yu-lun (李育倫) and Hakka vocalist Lin Bi-hsia (林碧霞).
For Fan, however, the first CD couldn't be completed until a second disc was made that featured Kou Chou Ching's music rearranged to further explore their equally talented peers - Lim Giong (林強), Monbaza and DJ Jay Szu.
"The double CD set presents the concept of time and continuity, from the past, present to future developments and possibilities," said Fan.
To the young rappers, inspiration came from wide ranging sources such as the news about a historical building about to be torn down, the sight of polluted oceans and even a chat about a mountain ogre (魔神仔) that fishLIN had with a villager after a gig at Spring Scream.
"You can get so much from talking to people and picking up things you can't possibly learn from books or TV," fishLIN said.
Ideas may come easily, but translating them into music is a laborious process that involves field study and time-consuming research. If the young rappers want to write about pollution in the ocean, they go out to find evidence and documents to back up their views. If the group decides to sample a traditional tune, it's members first study the origin, history and development of the tune, since music needs structure, not a hodgepodge of cut-and-paste sections, to use fishLIN's words.
Such strict attitudes toward making music explains why Kou Chou Ching produce only two to three songs a year. The group has produced 30,000 words of bilingual notes to accompany the double CD set and an audio and written dissertation on what they have learned from the past four years.
As for their future plans, the rappers said they wouldn't confine themselves to hip-hop acts and are keen to experiment with different music styles.
"We have been thinking of doing a house music project in Mandarin, Hakka, Hoklo and Aboriginal languages … . If someone wants to try out Hakka R 'n' B, I am also interested," said Fan.
Check out the group's gig schedule at blog.roodo.com/kou. More information on Kou Chou Ching's is available at www.myspace.com/koucc and the outfit's official Web site at www.kou.com.tw.
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