Veteran rocker Cui Jian at a press conference for the release of his latest album "Show You Colour" in Beijing last week.

The release of every new album by Cui Jian is an event in the history of Chinese rock music. "Show You Colour" is no exception. It is probably more so, for it has been seven years since his last album "Power of the Powerless" came out.

Veteran rocker Cui Jian at a press conference for the release of his latest album "Show You Colour" in Beijing last week.

Fortunately the seven years' waiting has not been in vain . The rich content and refined production of "Show You Colour" distinguish it from all of Cui's previous albums, and probably from any other rock album in China.

The 43-year-old veteran rocker said that he spent most of the time during the last seven years studying production equipment, through which he has discovered more possibilities to make music.

It was in his previous album that Cui tried to adopt a home production method, and now he is at home with it. He not only wrote all the songs of "Show You Colour," but also did the production, recording and mixing.

"The problem of time in producing this album is not that time is too short, but too long," said Cui. "In home production I have a great deal of time, but the more time I have, the more opportunities I have to challenge myself."

On the other hand, he said that the advantage of having his own studio to work in is that it is like writing a diary, in which he can compose little by little, and finish an album naturally when he has accumulated enough material. He was already producing part of this album when he was producing the previous one, and in the process of making this album he is also preparing for the next one.

(Agencies)

in vain:  to no avail（徒然）