Written by Elijah P.

There are albums that collect singles, and compile every banger made by a band for the rest of their career. And there are albums that are built by the brains of musicians that are far better than their past material, way beyond that they are just artists inevitably shelved in online streaming platform playlists forever. Enter Blaster Silonga, the 23-year old composer of their own works that are as complex even if their solo career has spanned less than a decade.

In “My Kosmik Island Disk”, the debut album of solo artist Blaster Silonga, there seems to be a hiding “clock”, ticking in the distance as every moment bursts in sonic technicolor. But whatever that imaginary metronome might be, there’s a lot to take in his debut album – that is, dissecting this album and its admirable elements. As the runtime justifies its lengthy tracks, Silonga and the company have built themselves a magical portal that will become known eventually in ‘OPM’ worldbuilding.

Released in October 2022, this was a year-long pursuit for Blaster and the Celestial Klownz, studying every missing element that would shape their musicianship and their relationship as band-friends-partners. As Silonga puts it, the “lonely island” is brimming with mercenaries taking fellowship under the wing of the de facto captain. There’s a lot to take in for a solo artist releasing their debut album that’s nothing but influences worn on his sleeves, and honestly, there’s more to it than meets the eye. There are musical influences transformed into something more aesthetically consistent, and in return, the 9-track album came out of the ashes; newly inspired music based from the past, for the future.

Tracks such as “NARARARAMDAMAN” and “DISKO FOREVER” are pop medleys jammed into one compact sheet note each: odd time signatures, guitar riffs on top of other riffs, sudden stops that call for an explosive instrumental outro, psychedelic hooks that are sung in either low and high timbre, and many to mention. “MAGUNAW NA ANG MUNDO” and “KOSMIK DREAM” are complimentary tracks that are meant to sit right next to each other; interludes like “ARMONYA” and “PRELUDE IN Eb MAJOR” are also standalone highlights that callback to Silonga’s knack for anything epic, both in a visual or sonic sense or in other words, “MY KOSMIK ISLAND DISK” is refined than it is flashy compared to the yore of their roots. Little tiny textures of synths are scattered like Easter eggs, flourishes of baroque-styled operatic synths and backing vocals are cued in moments that are in need to emphasize Silonga’s emotive expression (hear: “SA HULI ANG PAGSISISI” or “DISKO FOREVER”) and the results are less dizzying and more meticulously curated.

“MY KOSMIK ISLAND DISK” is a treasure of cross-cultural influence assimilated in the lens of a solo artist whose ambitions are far greater than they were in the past. May it be inspired by the dusty crates of Cubao Expo vinyl or the neverending shilling of mid-2010s freak-pop, the album is a showcase of greatness, not a vulgar display of musical showboating. Blaster Silonga and the Celestial Klownz are building what remains and what holds for the music community at large.

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