Wave

I was a little bit shocked when I first listened to Pong Nan's latest album Wave, in which the electronic music style, far more elaborate and dream-like, has replaced the simple piano accompaniment. Yet beneath the different music style lies the same humane soul of Pong Nan. Instead of doing everything himself, he has sought helping hands from lyricists to pen the words and musicians for arrangement. Chow Yiu Fai's lyrics for "Feng Lai" (Track 1) (Feng Lai is the dwelling place of fairies in Chinese legends) mentions both the Buddhist Sutra and quotes "Faith, Hope, and Love" from the Bible (Corinthians I). Even if you do not understand Cantonese, you can try to experience the universal spirituality in Pong Nan's voice, which transcends religious differences. Indeed "Faith, Hope, and Love" recurs in "Blind Year" (Track 2) which is also written by Chow.

I was expecting anger and grievances before I actually listened to "Daddy's Never Coming Home" (Track 9). All-round young writer Jessie (sometimes using You See Hand as her pseudonym) details the terrible hurtful behaviors a father is capable of in her lyrics, and describes how one can forgive but not forget so as to learn a lesson. Psychologists and counselors use tons of words to teach people how to lead a positive life despite traumatic experiences, but Pong Nan does it in one song with his unnoticeably powerful voice. The tempo and melody of this song invite a singer to be sentimental and let emotions burst out, but Pong Nan restrains the flooding of emotions and replaces that with the placidity of forgiveness. To articulate the feeling of turning a trauma into a quest for better future, despite whether one actually has such traumatic experiences, requires a thorough understanding of human nature which is inseparable from humanism.

That understanding is again reflected in the two remarkable songs named "Floating Wood" (Track 11) and "Forgetfulness" (Track 8). These two tracks may not be as ear-catching as "Feng Lai" or "Daddy's Never Coming Home", but they convey the hope for finding a way out of the troubles in life. The care and concern for humanity remain the greatest attraction of Pong Nan's music. Oscar Wilde's Happy Prince bears more sadness than others for he concerns the well-beings of all mankind, but at the same time he finds greater joy. Perhaps so does Pong Nan.