Chinese Underground Roundup Tracks Skramz, Psychedelic Dance Punk and Woozy Indie Pop

The extended selection, timed to run through Halloween, argues that China's underground scene resists a single description, moving from basement skramz to psychedelic dance punk, unruly noise rock and swampy experimental electronica across a single listening cycle.

Among the debuts is mrg32k3a, a Boston-based one-woman project rooted in the diaspora bedroom-skramz tradition. The debut, window of vulnerability, arrives via Small Animal Records and includes backing screams from Bolin of the three mice, pushing the collage-like, blender-style sound of fifth-wave emo further; the project sits alongside a robust DIY emo community and echoes acts such as idialedyournumber, Gingerbee and pabgaf.

Run! Novel, the chamber art pop troupe led by Huhu, returns with its second full-length album, Beware of False Prophets. Described as grand, whimsical, lyrically rich and satirically sharp, the record leans on bold orchestration, with dynamic shifts and intricate instrumentation woven together.

Zhejiang indie pop veterans Zoogazer follow their fluid, genre-splicing EP aday with pastday, continuing to explore new avenues for their woozy, wistful sound.

The roundup also takes in a Shanghai compilation that aims to capture the city's experimental spirit in its messiest, most varied form, alongside genre-bending oddballs and other comeback releases from the period.