Presenting the premiere release of Vincent Gillioz's effervescent score to NO MARRIAGE (2017), directed by Wang Zhan and starring Zhong Zheng and Zhang Qianru. Based on the highly popular manga of the same name, the movie adaptation tells the story of Gao Xin, a single office lady who faces family and societal pressure following a break-up with her ex-boyfriend. She meets up with the romantically inexperienced software engineer Rong Er, who is gathering data about female perspectives on love for research. They form a "romantic contract" to help each other out and gradually, begin to develop unexpected feelings for each other.

This witty, light-hearted score is a departure from Gillioz's dissonant, jagged soundscapes, and truly showcases his talents as a superb melodist. The music starts with a pair of memorable themes representing the two youthful leads, together forming the melodic cornerstone of the score, which reappears throughout the movie in various styles and guises, underlining the emotions, whimsy and drama to perfection. This is a gorgeous score that sparkles like diamonds, and reveals a romantic side of Gillioz's music rarely seen.

This bilingual (English and Chinese) album has been produced and annotated with exclusive liner notes by Benjamin Chee, with striking art design by the peerless Luis M Rojas. -BENJAMIN CHEE

1. No Marriage (feat. vocals by Wang Zhan) (1:29)
2. Under Pressure (2:31)
3. Funky Dating (1:49)
4. Close Encounter of the Other Kind (1:19)
5. Love is in the Hair (3:29)
6. Disagree to Disagree (0:58)
7. Cuckoo Guard (0:27)
8. Chainsaw Attack (0:38)
9. An Extraordinary Wedding (Pachelbel's Canon in D) (1:33)
10. Pirate Ship in Strange Dimensions (2:41)
11. Bleeps and Bloops (1:14)
12. Not So Stylish (0:55)
13. Not So Plain Ticket (1:24)
14. The Map to My Star (5:35)
15. A Serious Conversation (2:40)
16. Electronic Love, Electric Ex (4:02)
17. Paper Cuts (0:47)
18. The Apple of My Eye (1:31)
19. Gao Xin and Rong Er (1:24)