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China's answer to New Age music

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Vivienne Chow

The music seems to be literally bouncing off the walls. Vocals in English, Cantonese and Putonghua intertwine and travel across the small room and back again, transporting the listener.

It's a new genre called 9D music - and it's a distinctly local sound. The lyrics derive mainly from Taoism and the notes, its creators say, travel on sonic paths arranged according to the Tao of I-ching.

And it's not just for entertainment. The music is created with tranquillity in mind, providing soothing sounds to calm listeners' nerves, and improve health and fortune. It's a departure from the city's usual fare of Canto-pop and indie - and those behind it are hoping it will become China's answer to New Age music.

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The man behind the sound is Junno Tang Hong-si. Formerly a triad member, Tang turned to Taoism. He came up with the idea of melding the I-ching, fung shui, Taoism and music nine years ago. He thought it might be a way to help unemployed dropouts hooked on internet cafes.

'Back then, I wondered why the kids were so addicted to the world of computer games,' said Tang, the chairman of the Institute of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism.

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Tang, who is also a member of the Taoist Association's youth committee, learnt how to play computer games to try to reach this section of society. 'Later I realised that it wasn't just the computer games ... It was the multidimensional sound effects in this world of online games that got them hooked - like the music and sounds used in a battle game.'

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