Red Scarf has been described as “a trio of madmen” who deconstruct, reassemble, and then decimate genre after genre, are clearly having a blast with their take on rock, free jazz, and noise. Consisting of guitarist Li Xing, drummer Deng Boyu, and saxophonist/flutist Lao Dan and formed in 2014, the band released their self-titled debut in 2016 on BADHEAD. In 2018, Red Scarf released their sophomore They Know We Know They’re Lying. Later in that year they supported krautrock legend Damo Suzuki on his Chinese tour. 

Unlike their improvisation-based debut, They Know We Know They’re Lying showcases the bands ability to deliver tightly structured and carefully balanced prog-rock compositions characterized by harsh textures, rich dynamics, and wicked black humour. As reviewed by Live Beijing Music:

“Take the soundtrack to Tom and Jerry, douse it in bath salts and you only have the slightest sense of the glorious mayhem found within Red Scarf’s frantic and beautifully assembled 2018 releaseThey Know We Know They’re Lying. A deep dive into the mouth of madness that pits renegade sax, high-pitched souna against a fierce battle between guitar and drums, eventually transforming into a symphony of metal-tinged breakdowns and free jazz roar before it once again jack knifes elsewhere…” 

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Li Xing / guitar, synthesizer

Lao Dan / saxophone, bamboo flute, suona 

Deng Boyu / drums  

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BADHEAD (B-052). May 2018. All Music: Red Scarf

Available as 320k MP3 or 24bit FLAC  

Tracklisting:

1. Red Rooster (红公鸡)
2. Shit Everywhere (鸟翔飞)
3. Shanghai Rats (海上耗子)
4. Complain Assembly (诉苦大会)
5. Freak Show (畸形秀)