The soaring and superb second effort of Shanghaiâs underground legends, Kingdom is classic Cold Fairyland.

9 MP3 Songs in this album (43:48) !
Related styles: ROCK: Modern Rock, ROCK: Goth



Details:
Kingdom of Benevolent Strangers

This is classic Cold Fairyland.
Self produced in 2003, Kingdom of Benevolent Strangers a culmination of all the band memberâs efforts, and as such, Lin Di considers this the first true Cold Fairyland album. The canvas is broader. The tonal palette is richer. Between âFlying in the Cityâ and this album, came Lin Diâs solo album âTen Days in Magic Landâ. Some of the traditional elements from it as well as one song, âDesperate Flower in your Handâ, have made their way to Kingdom.
Long out of print and never widely available outside of China, Kingdom of Benevolent Strangers is now available World Wide. This special digital only edition has a new opening track, âChild and Featherâ that was not included on the original CD. From this acoustic introduction the band dives into a rich synthesis of sound in âAutumn Sleepâ and the high flying & haunting âGlass Cutterâ. Next is the macabre titled â Dead Children In Newspapersâ. This is the first CFL recording to feature Lin Di on pipa. The pipa is a pear shaped Chinese lute with four strings and a deeply scalloped fretboard. Here is what the poet Bai Juyi said of the pipa:

The bold strings-they patterned like the dashing rain,
The life strings-they sounded like the lovers' whispers.
Chattering and pattering, pattering and chattering
As pearls, large and small, on a jade platter fall.

You will hear exactly what he means when Lin Di plays. After the smooth, soaring flight of âDudu! You Sayâ comes a different arrangement of â A Desperate Flower in Your Handâ. Here, the guitars shimmer and soar - the vocals range from beguiling in the verse, to compelling in bridge, all the way to absolutely chilling at the songs climax.

A Desperate Flower in Your Hand

When the hole in time is here
the silence already decayed
the heart fills with memories
and secret breath surrounds
I just want to be a flower
growing quietly in your hand
I dream I am a pure white flower
quietly dying in your hand.

Next is ebullient and exuberant âParis Catâ, evoking images of psychedelic 60âs caged go go dancers. The captivating âLittle Fairy Girlâ leads into the concluding â Color of Sunsetâ.
Kingdom of Benevolent Strangers is a milestone in the history and development of Cold Fairyland. The underground legend has hit its stride

Lin Di - vocals, keyboards, pipa
Li Jia - drums
Su Yong - bass
Zhou ShengAn - cello
Song JianFeng - guitar