Ultimate Discipline by Wukong: Review
The three pals, Li, Huang, and Su met in 2016 and instantly became friends due to their shared passion for making Chinese orchestration soundtracks. They founded the band Wukong, whose projects focused on crafting signature neoclassical compositions with an oriental spin. Their music has appeared in numerous Chinese films and has even crossed over into Hollywood projects such as Pixar’s Lightyear, Ubisoft’s For Honor, and Mercedes’ EQS commercial, to mention a few. If you’re new to the party, their most recent release, “Ultimate Discipline,” is a wonderful place to start.
The tune’s Far Eastern origins were obvious from the start, with many trademark traditional instruments of the region. The mystical and ambient atmosphere were brought up along with the crystal clear erhu, otherwise known as the Chinese fiddle. Lin effortlessly transports listeners into a fantasy land with his gorgeous erhu playing. The Chinese bamboo flute, known as the dizi, was then promptly added by Huang to the harmonies. The two instruments melded into a soothing, purifying, and tranquil flow, which floated above the driving drum beat of the Taiko drum. It was Su who was responsible for tying the sound together and achieving a harmonious power dynamic between the Taiko drums and the orchestration sound. As the beat accelerates as the strings and drums sprint to the peak, the music builds to a crescendo that is both majestic and satisfying. The band spent three months testing out alternative compositions and arrangements to ensure the track’s uniqueness and authenticity.
You can listen to the track along with their new album, “Awesomeness”, on all major streaming platforms.
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Review by: Lily Thomas