Somewhat on the fringes of the dark shoegaze/goth-pop movement hubbed in the Echo Park district of Los Angeles, the Culver City seven-piece Xu Xu Fang might not be at the center of this scene, but is certainly at the forefront. Forming in 2005, the band has garnered a respectable amount of acclaim for its darkwave filled with noisy shoegaze and delicate ambient flourishes. After contributing a cover of David Bowie's "China Girl" to a Bowie tribute album, Xu Xu Fang received quite a bit of attention, with some publications declaring the band's version to be better than the original. Coupled with a haunting music video to accompany the song, Xu Xu Fang broadened its exposure outside of LA, securing fans as far as in the UK.
