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When it comes to independent music from China, Beijing’s rock scene — raw, politicized, and strewn with obstacles — has captivated media attention as the mouthpiece for creativity in China. Two men have decided to set the record straight, and their answer is eXpo, an electronic music compilation that samples a different kind of talent: the growing number of Chinese musicians armed with laptops instead of mikes.

The first of its kind, eXpo is the brainchild of The Shanghai Restoration Project, a US-based group known for its fusion of Chinese instrumentation with hip-hop and electronica, and Neocha, a leading social networking website for independent Chinese musicians and artists. TSRP producer Dave Liang and Neocha founder Sean Loew sorted through hundreds of top Chinese electronic artists to curate an eclectic album with genres ranging from chiptune, dubstep, techno, ambient, IDM and more.

Familiar names on eXpo include B6 and iLoop from the pioneering Shanshui Records, one of China’s first electronic labels, but it’s the virtually unknown artists who are the heart of the project. As Liang and Loew explain, “Electronica is representative of the independent music scene in China, as the entry barrier is low in terms of both skill and costs. Any ambitious music fan with [an internet connection] can listen to music from around the world and then use a wide range of pirated software to create music.”

One such music fan was ZLOX, who made it onto the album through a Neocha online talent search. ZLOX’s background as a rock musician is evident in the melodic moments of his playful “Song of Night.” Other highlights on the album include Qiu Yu’s Gameboy-inspired “Zero,” Mu Xiao Hu and MHP’s Shanghai clubhouse-ready tracks, and TSRP’s taut remix of Red Red Mushroom’s “Big Pirate Tyakasha.” The only song with lyrics on the album, Red Red Mushroom seems to channel dreams of a rising class of young Chinese creatives when she describes Tyakasha as pirate / illustrator / dreamer / writer / psycho / photographer.

eXpo will be released worldwide on May 4, the same week that Shanghai Expo opens. The album will be available for purchase through iTunes and Amazon. To learn more about the project and the artists, visit the eXpo website at http://www.expoartists.com.