As China's first all-electronic band, Supermarket (Chaoji Shichang) faces daunting challenges. More importantly, they encounter the added difficulty of reaching out to a relatively unexposed Chinese audience. On their debut LP, 1998's Muyang (Appearance), Supermarket introduced a blend of synthesized beats, vocals, and jangly guitars to China's rock-dominated scene. Their new release, Qi Zhong Wuqi (Seven Types of Weapon), displays a more sophisticated sound that draws from a wider range of influences. Unlike Supermarket's New Order/Cure-influenced debut, Weapon employs a more complex arsenal of breakbeats and samples and received good critics.
Much to their credit, Supermarket has drawn from a wide range of influences without sacrificing their own original sound. All the more impressive is the fact that they are virtually the only group in China of their kind. With the international success of similar acts from Japan (Pizzicatto Five and Cornelius), Supermarket is an encouraging sign of real vitality coming out of the Middle Kingdom's tiny electronica-oasis.