Not many debut releases by Hong Kong acts have received praise from figures as influential as Massive Attack's Robert Del Naja.
Primary Shapes' debut EP, Bell Lab, was released in 2000 and its blend of experimental sounds and precocious melodies won plenty of fans.
But vocalist/keyboard player Tang Chi-wai and guitarist Wong Shing-san have been quiet since 2002, with no new releases or live performances. The good news for fans is that they're back with a new album, Here, There, Everywhere, and a long-awaited gig this weekend in Causeway Bay.
Tang says they haven't been lazy over the past few years. 'We've never stopped,' says the 29-year-old, who meets Wong two to four times a week at their Fortress Hill studio. 'After Bell Lab, we thought for a long time about what we should do next. We wanted to do something that people haven't done or no one has explored, which is more satisfying and meaningful to us.'
Which is how they came up with the idea of composing music in DTS (digital theatre system) 5.1 surround sound. It was a frustrating process. 'We failed many times,' says Wong, 32. 'On the concept side, our minds also needed to grow to a certain level to create something convincing.'
Tang says that although it has taken a while, it's been worth it. 'We don't think spending five years to create a piece of work is too long - especially as we're not full-time musicians.'