Look Directly Into the Sun: China Pop 2007

When musician, producer and label owner Martin Atkins visited Beijing in the fall of 2006, he had no idea what to expect. What he found was a thriving underground culture of rock bands that reminded him of his time in London in the late 70s, and of the downtown scene in late 70s/early 80s NYC. Punk, avant-guard experimentation, Brit-pop, new wave, scratch DJs and more. He signed several bands while he was there, shot 80 hours of video footage, and rented out High End Sound Studios, where he recorded tracks from well over a dozen bands. He recorded live shows at the D-22 club - a venue that embodies the spirit that CBGBs had when Martin arrived in NYC over 25 years ago - just as news of the final show at the legendary NY nightclub was breaking on CNN.

This first of a kind compilation features 18 Beijing pop, punk and rock bands. Carsick Cars have just gone to Europe to play Vienna, Prague and London opening for Sonic Youth. The Scoff, PK-14 and Joyside are opening for Nine Inch Nails at the Beijing Pop Festival this year. This compilation features the bands that will be front and center in the emergence of the Beijing underground beyond China.