Thriving in the chaotic mix of high rise metropolitan life and stunning geographical features, Blood Wine or Honey have synthesized Hong Kong’s stark sense of contrast into their debut record Fear & Celebration. From inside warehouses and rural enclaves, the trio has created a hybrid sound that knows no borders. Combining a tropicalia rhythmic base with techno, house and post punk antics, Blood Wine or Honey have fully embraced a global sound that more than verges on the experimental. If anything, the music feels like a defiant act, relishing in the unknown territories between nations and genres. If this sounds like a dissonant journey, it is, so suck it up and dive in. On the inspiration that Hong Kong provides, the band had this to say:
“It’s not difficult to be stimulated from Hong Kong and the city has probably seeped into our music in a lot of subconscious ways, though nothing that’s too intentional. A large chunk of the album was recorded in a warehouse in one of the industrial areas on HK Island and the vibes of that neighborhood probably left some stain. We also named our label Plastic Pagan—which has no direct link to the city but somehow seems like an apt name for our place here.”
Watch the video for title track “Fear & Celebration” and explore their Hong Kong guide below:
