‘Chapel of Dawn’ is not only a significant chapter in the music career of Juno, it is also a rare addition to local music production. A dark sound that sets itself aside from Canto-pop, resembling Mo’Wax-like abstract hip-hop. With interval music produced by avant-garde hip hopper Takagi Kan, it was an ambitious production. ‘Words of Silence’, released early this year, flipped to the other side of the diameter. Power ballads they are, but not the typical ‘sing-along’ kind of canto-pop music. Juno’s vocal is affectionate yet gloomy, allowing the audience to take a glimpse of his bitter sweet fantasy world. After two very opposite attempts, Juno surprised us yet again with ‘LML’. An utterly likeable sound combining old skool hip hop and acid jazz, it reminds one of the golden 1980s sound. Yet ‘LML’ is only a one-off guerilla collaboration. ‘Why’, Juno’s latest album, is the true parameter to his future musical direction.

The album title ‘Why’ is taken from it processing the same pronunciation as the word ‘improper’ in Chinese. Embodying a more grown up sound, the album assembles an ‘all-star’ production team including Carl Wong, Peter Kam, Jerald and Davy Chan. Chow Yiufai is solely responsible for all lyrics in this album. The result is a sound that is contemporarily romantic and elegant. The first single ‘Wrote Too Much’ is written by acclaimed native singer-songwriter Anthony Lun. A pianist himself, Lun wrote the melody with piano as its base instrument, accompanied with strings.

There is a different mix for the ensemble version, layering the vocal of Juno and Anthony on top of each other. The R&B ‘I Never Have Secrets’ is composed with a melody that floats like a cloud, with vocal by the cool vocodor. The remix version by 24 Herbs thumps with its hip hop beats. ’24.01’ is a rock ballad written by new generation singer-songwriter Endy Chow. ‘You’re The Maze I’m The Traveller’ written by Louis Cheung is filled with nostalgic AOR sound, with the delightful synth knocking along. ‘Garden / Landmine’ by Ivana Wong is filled with her signature fragile, sensitive touch. ‘You Die First’, written by Juno himself, draws a melancholic emotion-scape.

Text: Bruno Moonbyrd | Translation: dilettante | Update: 8 Dec 2008