Album marries ancient Chinese songs with Western instruments

Veteran singer not yet over the hill

Surf's up for now laid-back Chang

"He's so knowledgeable, just like a walking encyclopedia of traditional Chinese literature. Citing literary quotes and stories of poets is second nature to him. He once wrote me a letter using ancient Chinese literary language, which read like a poem. I couldn't understand it at all but I toyed with the idea of turning the letter into a song," says Chau, 53.

He has released more than 40 albums in Cantonese, Mandarin and English since the 1980s.

The letter did become a song and was included in Chau's new album. It is titled Jin Lu Qu and describes the friendship between two men. The other songs in the album also depict various people and their emotions, such as a sad farewell between lovers, heroes on a battlefield and a beggars' observation of the world.

"I have written and performed all kinds of songs during the past 20 years. I was looking for something different and meaningful," Chau says. "This album fulfilled all my ideas about music. After this album, I can retire.

"I have been so fascinated about cross-cultural communication between the East and the West. I've learned Western instruments since college and married an American woman," says Chau. "After 40, I realized that the older I am, the more I want to learn and return to my cultural roots and do something about it."

Veteran songwriter and producer Jonathan Lee, who also attended Chau's album preview concert, says: "It is a great thing to see a successful singer-songwriter like Chau doing something unconventional and meaningful."