POP/ROCK - May 30, 1990

Chinese Reggae: Some of China’s best popular musicians have recorded what will be the first Chinese reggae album. Forget that the style is rooted in political dissent and the kind of soul-stirring beat abhorred by China’s elders. “It’s simple,” shrugged an official of a government ministry involved with the album. “We can make money.” A government company organized the project, and plans to release the album this summer. The artists have been working with veteran American producer Jeffrey Cheen. The album’s 11 songs are mostly Chinese traditional tunes rearranged in reggae style.