First Experience (1st Edition) (Blu-spec CD)

In recent years, there has been a noticeable trend of newcomer male singer-songwriters in Hong Kong. Khalil Fong, Endy Chow, Justin Lo, Soler, and Louis Cheung, for example, are all known for their singing and composing skills. To have a newcomer like Jason Chan who only focuses on singing is increasingly rare. This reviewer, however, has never subscribed to the belief that only singer-songwriters are good artists. After all, don't Jacky Cheung and Eason Chan also focus on singing (and only compose occasionally)? As long as an artist can sing well, express his/her own style, and choose songs wisely, even if he/she doesn't compose or participate in production, he/she can still be an outstanding singer. So how does Jason Chan measure up? Does he have a chance to emerge as this year's newcomer frontrunner? The answer is positive.

For a newcomer, Jason Chan's performance is already ideal. Although his vocals and techniques still need time to mature, he handles all of his songs well in terms of singing skill and emotional expression, which already makes him better than newcomers like Kelvin Kwan and Vincent Wong. With a voice well suited for ballads, he is able to build an affecting performance, making it easy for the listener to breathe in each song's mood.

As for the album's ten Cantonese and Mandarin tracks, the quality is quite good overall, with both the original songs and the covers being catchy and touching. Composers Mark Lui, Ng Chung Hang, Peter Kam, and others can be commended for their work here. With all the songs in the album being ballads, however, Jason Chan has limited space to display his full potential, leading to the impression that he has a narrow range to offer. Next time, it would be a better strategy to arrange different types of songs for him to sing.

First plug "Stubborn" (Track 1) is the Cantonese version of the theme song to Japanese drama 1 Litre of Tears. The touching song has a pleasing melody and atmospheric arrangement, with Cantonese lyrics that complement the song's sentiments and leave a deep impression. Jason Chan comfortably reaches the song's high notes, and his performance here is satisfactory, holding up to the original. Mandarin version "Strong" (Track 9) is also a solid offering. With good melody and lyrics, second plug "Breaking Relations" (Track 2) is smooth, easy to remember, and strong in sentiments, and Jason Chan strikes the right emotional balance in his singing. The addition of female vocals for the song's duet version (Track 8) creates a likable atmosphere, with both voices sounding agreeable together. In comparison to the nondescript "Car Keys" (Track 3), "Submit to Life" (Track 4), with its strains of harmonica in the arrangment, is more ear-catching and offers more appealing melody and lyrics. Other songs like "A Doctor's Sorrow" (Track 6) and "Doesn't Equal" (Track 7) are also worth a listen.

by Stephen Lee

(Translation: Sanwei)