This is classic Cold Fairyland.
Self produced in 2003, Kingdom of Benevolent Strangers a culmination of all the band member’s efforts, and as such, LinDi considers this the first true Cold Fairyland album. The canvas is broader. The tonal palette is richer. Between “Flying in the City” and this album, came LinDi’s solo album “Ten Days in Magic Land”. Some of the traditional elements from it as well as one song, “Desperate Flower in your Hand”, have made their way to Kingdom.
Long out of print and never widely available outside of China, Kingdom of Benevolent Strangers is now available World Wide. This special digital only edition has a new opening track, “Child and Feather” that was not included on the original CD. From this acoustic introduction the band dives into a rich synthesis of sound in “Autumn Sleep” and the high flying & haunting “Glass Cutter”. Next is the macabre titled “ Dead Children In Newspapers”. This is the first CFL recording to feature LinDi on pipa. The pipa is a pear shaped Chinese lute with four strings and a deeply scalloped fretboard. Here is what the poet Bai Juyi said of the pipa:

The bold strings-they patterned like the dashing rain,
The life strings-they sounded like the lovers' whispers.
Chattering and pattering, pattering and chattering
As pearls, large and small, on a jade platter fall.

You will hear exactly what he means when LinDi plays. After the smooth, soaring flight of “Dudu! You Say” comes a different arrangement of “ A Desperate Flower in Your Hand”. Here, the guitars shimmer and soar - the vocals range from beguiling in the verse, to compelling in bridge, all the way to absolutely chilling at the songs climax.

A Desperate Flower in Your Hand

When the hole in time is here
the silence already decayed
the heart fills with memories
and secret breath surrounds
I just want to be a flower
growing quietly in your hand
I dream I am a pure white flower
quietly dying in your hand.

Next is ebullient and exuberant “Paris Cat”, evoking images of psychedelic 60’s caged go go dancers. The captivating “Little Fairy Girl” leads into the concluding “ Color of Sunset”.
Kingdom of Benevolent Strangers is a milestone in the history and development of Cold Fairyland. The underground legend has hit its stride