Yi King II by JeanPierre Labrèche is an impressive album that showcases the Canadian musician's remarkable talent for blending traditional Chinese music with modern electronic beats. The album consists of ten tracks, each of which takes inspiration from one of the 64 hexagrams of the ancient Chinese divination text, the Yi Jing (Book of Changes).
From the opening track, "Hexagram 1: The Creative," Labrèche's mastery of blending different musical styles is evident. The track begins with a slow, ethereal melody played on a traditional Chinese instrument, before gradually building to a pulsing electronic beat that perfectly complements the melody.
As the album progresses, Labrèche continues to impress with his ability to seamlessly blend traditional Chinese instruments and melodies with modern electronic beats. Tracks like "Hexagram 13: Fellowship with Men" and "Hexagram 46: Pushing Upward" are particularly standout examples of this.
One of the album's strengths is its ability to create a sense of atmosphere and mood. Each track feels like it's telling a story, and the music is evocative enough to transport the listener to a different time and place. This is particularly evident in tracks like "Hexagram 29: The Abysmal" and "Hexagram 63: After Completion."