On the show this time, it’s the emo-math, jangle-pop of Wuhan band Chinese Football.
On the show this time, it’s the emo-math, jangle-pop of Wuhan band Chinese Football. Chinese Football is a four piece indie-rock band formed in 2011. The name was indeed inspired by Midwest legends American Football, and the two bands have even played together. Their music has elements of emo, math-rock, indie-rock, and punk.
Their latest release is Win or Lose, the third in a trilogy of albums based on a fictitious video game. The first was Here Comes a New Challenger?, followed by Continue?. The albums all have killer anime-style covers, by the illustrator Space Layout, inspired by Street Fighter 2. The lyrics sort of follow the trials and tribulations of singer Xu Bo’s dream of becoming a rock star, and the band touring the world. There’s a humility to the lyrics that borders on self-deprecation, what they call “the hesitation which follows failure.” Once the band fires up though, there is no hesitation, they deliver tight jangly, intricate riffs, poppy harmony, and a danceable groove.
Recorded October 24, 2024
