The underground music scene in Beijing produces a lot of derivative and half-assed bands, but PK14 are great by any standards. The quartet, most of whom hails from the southern city of Nanjing (although drummer Jonathan Leijonhufvud is a Swedish national), plays catchy, charging postpunk in the vain of Television and Gang of Four. Their off-kilter beats, smart lyrics (which, unlike most other new Chinese bands, are in Mandarin), and blazing guitar parts earned them the distinction of being one of Time magazine’s 5 Asian Acts to Watch in 2008. The band was recently in Sweden recording their fourth album, which is due to be released any day now.

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