Dutch band Chinawhite exist since 1989. Their latest milestone is the release of a minicd A Dragon’s Birth with a total playing time of 20 minutes. This disk contains original material only, in contradiction to prior demotapes. Chinawhite doesn’t have to be ashamed of their own songs. Though not pure symphonic, the polished melodic rock songs containing heavy guitars, choirs and horns are well put together. The real sympho-freak might be disturbed with a lack of textual and musical draught, but with some fantasy one could call this band the partyanimals under the Dutch bands. Strongest songs are opener ‘rock and water’ and the alas only 30 seconds lasting title track. A special note for singer Don Feltges for his un-Dutch vocals fronting the band, and the production by Fred Hendrix which both give ‘A dragon’s Birth’ a very mature allure. (michel naumovski)