On Chinese New Year Feb. 7th 2026 (Year of the Fire Horse), Gary Lucas released “The Edge of Heaven Volume 2,” featuring Chinese vocalist and erhu virtuoso Feifei Yang and multi-instrumentalist Jason Candler, on over 140 digital formats, including Apple Music, Amazon Music, Spotify, and YouTube.
"Even if you are totally, thoroughly unfamiliar with
the genre known as Mid-century Chinese Pop music, you may still find yourself
hypnotically drawn into this record “The Edge of Heaven Volume 2,” the
latest collection from guitarist Gary Lucas, singer and musician Feifei Yang,
and multi-instrumentalist Jason Candler. This is music originally recorded in
Shanghai during the 1930s and '40s by some of the great female singing stars of
China—in particular (for this program) Bai Kwong, Chow Hsuan, and Yao Lee—not
exactly household names even for western aficionados, but with an indescribable
allure nearly a century(!) later that is impossible not to warm up to and feel
comfortable with. Gary Lucas is an adventurous musical soul whose affection for
this vintage arcania is second nature, and he succeeds in delivering the
magic."
—Arthur Levy, rock writer and editor emeritus, music historian, album
annotator, researcher, archivist, mensch
"The ever-prolific Gary Lucas has just released a new
album. With this one he is revisiting the music of his earlier album “Edge
of Heaven” where he takes a deep dive into 1930s – ‘40s Chinese pop from
Shanghai. “Edge of Heaven Volume 2” features Gary's guitar
accompanying singer Feifei Yang with Jason Candler on reeds and percussion. It
took me a while to get into that first album, but once I’d listened to a few of
the original songs and then went back to the album, it all made sense. There's
a dreamy, otherworldly feel to the music, although that is probably a response
based on hearing it with Western ears...or maybe not. Fascinating stuff, give
it a go if you haven't already.”
—Steve Froy, The Captain Beefheart Radar Station
Amazon Music album link: music.amazon.in/albums/B0GMKXYWHG
“The Edge of Heaven Volume 2”is the follow-up to
Gary's album, “The Edge of Heaven – Gary Lucas Plays Mid-Century
Chinese Pop,” originally released on the French government-backed Label
Bleu, which received stellar reviews internationally and rose to #1 on the
World Music Charts. MOJO called it “simply gorgeous…played by
a guitarist who learned his chops in Kowloon's dive bars before unleashing his
skills with Beefheart.”
Both albums are filled with Chinese pop songs known as
“shidaiqu,” Mandarin for "popular songs of the era"—a fascinating
amalgam of Eastern and Western musical influences.
Lush, romantic, hypnotic, and melodic, these songs were
originally recorded in Pathe Studios in Shanghai in the 30's and 40's, a
cosmopolitan free port at the time known as "the Paris of the East."
*Bai Kwong: sensual, husky-voiced singer known as the
"Mae West of China." Covered are "Pretense," "Old
Dreams," "If I'm Without You," and "Where is My Home."
*Chow Hsuan: known as the "Golden Voice of
China": "Tell Me," "On Two Roads," "Mad
World," "Tale of the Man-Jong Game," "New Pair of
Flowers," "Seeing Older Brother Off," and "Spring in Zhong
Mountain."
*Teresa Teng: 1970/1980s’ Tawainese superstar. "The
Moon Represents My Heart" was one of her hits.
* “The Edge of Heaven Volume Two” includes an
instrumental version of “Rose Rose, I Love You,” made famous by Yao Lee, who
dubbed vocals for leading Chinese actresses in the movies from the 1940s on.
The musicians in the orchestras assembled for these recordings included many European refugees fleeing the Nazis, Fascists, and Bolsheviks.
For more information on The Golden Age of Chinese Pop, visit The Story of Shidaiqu: interaction.sixthtone.com/feature/2026/Shanghai-Sessions/
Gary Lucas has been called “One of the most original
guitarists in America...a modern guitar miracle” by Rolling Stone magazine. He
has released over 50 acclaimed albums in every conceivable genre, written hits
for Jeff Buckley and Joan Osborne, toured in over 40 countries, and played and
collaborated with luminaries like Lou Reed, Jeff Buckley, Captain Beefheart,
Nick Cave, Chris Cornell, Bob Weir, Leonard Bernstein, et al. he has composed
music for film and tv and also live scores accompanying films both silent and
sound, he’s received several Lifetime Achievement Awards and Songwriting Awards
in Italy for his work with Jeff Buckley, and performed before the General
Assembly of the UN for Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Feifei Yang is an internationally recognized Chinese string
virtuoso, mezzo-soprano, and Voting Member of the Recording Academy (GRAMMY
Awards). As a Global Music Award and Berlin Music Video Award winner, she has
brought the erhu to major cultural stages. Featured by media outlets including
CBS, NBC, and AFP, she is acclaimed for interpreting Chinese music with
emotional depth, artistic refinement, and a distinctly modern voice.
Jason Candler is a multi-talented musician, producer, sound
designer for films, and recording engineer who has played reed instruments,
guitar and percussion with Gary Lucas in a variety of ensembles since the
mid-‘90s, as well as working with the Hungry March Band and his own group Earth
People.
Produced by Gary Lucas and Jason Candler
Recorded and mixed in NYC by Jason Candler
Cover design by Joe Dizney
Cover photo by Jesse Winter
Executive Producer: Bob Rubin
Songs on “The Edge of Heaven Volume 2” and Their
Songwriters
1. “Old Dreams” Ho Shang and Usuay Shi Tsuen
2. "If I’m Without You” Chang Hung and Lu Li
3. “New Pair of Flowers” Yan Hua
4. “The Mad World” Li Qui Niu and Li Chun Ching
5. “On Two Roads” Yan Zhezi and Li Jongiua
6. “The Moon Represents My Heart" Weng Ching-Shi
and Sun Yi
7. “Spring in Zhong Mountain” Fan Yanquiao and Li
Jingjuan
8. “Pretense” Ching Geng and Yay Yi Fong
9. “Rose Rose I Love You” Chen Gexin and Wu Sun
10.“Seeing Older Brother Off” Wang Luobin
11.“Tell Me” Yan Zhexi
12. “Where is My Home” Chen Re Jing and Hsu Soo Ling
“The Edge of Heaven-Volume 2” webpage: https://garylucas.com/www/edgetwo/edgetwo.shtml
