My Cup Of Tea (CD+DVD) DVD Region All

While there are notably more composers onboard this time, producers C.Y. Kong and Kavin Tsang are still able to create an album with a unified musical tone (the producers are so insistent on this that theme song "The Drive of Life" (Track 11) and one of the remixes are relegated to "bonus tracks" status). And the keyword this time around is "soft." Everything in this album is soft in the sound department, from Hacken's vocals to the use of acoustic instruments (some people might even mistake this for a Chet Lam album). Furthermore, as if Hacken's usual trademark voice isn't soft enough already, he reportedly used several methods to further soften his voice, including sitting down during recording to lessen the use of his diaphragm and recording in the morning when his voice is weaker. This time, he doesn't even have to compete with the musical team, despite the presence of violinist David Garrett and the Hong Kong Sinfonietta. That's not to say that the musical aspect of My Cup of Tea is weak, but rather that the lack of the production gimmick means the arrangement no longer has to compete to stand out, allowing for a more balanced album.

This is especially true for the tracks dominated by the acoustic guitar. "Father and Son" (Track 2) by Eric Kwok and "Continue Being Single" (Track 3) both use refreshingly quiet acoustic arrangements that match Hacken's vocal choice and the songs' respective subject matters. In fact, the recordings sound so natural that both of these songs could've been recorded under the Concert Hall guideline. Unlike opening track "Paper Marriage" (Track 1), whose melodramatic melody and arrangement sound like it belongs on another album, the two acoustic tracks truly set the light gentle tone the album wants to achieve.

Unlike Hacken's past two albums, where the faster songs with irreverent subject matters clashed unnaturally with the elegant tone of the rest of the album, the lack of instrumental limitations this time around allows the producers to fit other genres into the musical tone. While The Invisible Men's "Brazil Women Team" (Track 7) successfully fits into the South American samba genre with a general tone that also injects a bit of life into the proceedings, Hacken's vocal is still too stable and ultimately too safe to suitably fit the song. More successful is C.Y.Kong's "Twins" (Track 6), which can be best described as a waltz in the style of a pop song. Here, Hacken's vocal serves as a deadpan storyteller singing about the close relationship of twin brothers. While its success can also be attributed to better lyrics, the vocal is successful simply because it doesn't feel out of place.

In the end, Hacken Lee is first and foremost a pop singer. This means My Cup of Tea is actually filled with Cantopop's favorite genre - ballads. The ballads in the first half - "The Fork" (Track 4) and "Who Will the Flower Go To" (Track 5) - are fairly solid thanks to their melodies. On the other hand, while the three ballads that end the album feature the same solid arrangements and vocals that are in line with the rest of the album, they are ultimately only effective as side tracks because of melodies that fail to be as memorable as the tracks in the first half.

Like the album's title suggests, My Cup of Tea really depends on one's preference. If you are looking for a continuation of the Concert Hall series - in other words, an elegant and grand stereo workout - this album doesn't feature the type of climax to satisfy the requirement. On the other hand, if you are looking for a relaxing summer album that is pleasing to the ears and doesn't demand much on the eardrums, then this might be the Hong Kong album of the summer. My theory on the album title is that Hacken has finally found his niche in naturalistic studio recording; whether you choose to follow along fully depends on, pardon the pun, what your cup of tea happens to be.

by Kevin Ma