PUBLISHED ONAugust 30, 2013 8:00 PMByBoon Chan
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AYAL KOMOD (CD + DVD)
Chang Chen-yue
Rock Records
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Y4YOU
Yen-j
B'in Music International
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Names are important because they are a fundamental part of one's identity. And after nine studio albums under the moniker of Chang Chen-yue, the Taiwanese rocker steps out under his aboriginal name, Ayal Komod.
The name change promises a back-to- basics, return-to-roots approach. For starters, there is more of a laid-back sun- sea-and-surf vibe here than on his previous records.
He sings on Used Guitar: "A wave comes crashing over, one's skin is especially dark during summer." And Welcome To Hua Lian works its homespun charm from the opening lines: "Take you to my hometown for a look/The azure Pacific Ocean lies across from my house."
On tracks such as Fancy Cars And Tanks, Take It Slow and Frustrated Man, we see him taking stock and shaking his head at the emptiness of material pursuit.
The singer-songwriter paints a stark picture on Man: "Still a little lonely, especially on returning home/I've eaten a lot, but my heart is empty."
Even as he eases into life in the slow lane, fellow Taiwanese singer-songwriter Yen-j is revving up his engine.
Just nine months after Simple Love (2012), he drops a new disc and also recently held a solo concert at the hallowed Taipei Arena.
The theme for the gig, At Least I Have Me, is included here and harks back to the idealistic young man of his jazzy debut, Thanks Your Greatness (2010). He sings: "Many years later, I'll look back, rejoice that I still have my dreams and ideals."
Musically, at least, he has changed in some respects. He plays around with electro-pop on Pi. And on the retrolicious Year 2000, he name-checks classics of the era such as Jay Chou's Lovely Woman and Mayday's Tender.
The album is least interesting when it veers into commercial love ballad territory with Good Lover. And given that he had a hand in the lyrics on eight of the 11 tracks, it seems telling that the lyrics for Lover were written by someone else instead.
Head instead for album closer The Days That I Am Without You. It starts off light and jazzy, with Yen-j taking on a lower and slightly huskier singing tone, and then flirts briefly with electronica elements. All together, a more surprising, and satisfying, love ballad than any number tailored to be radio-friendly can hope to be.
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