Written by Elijah P. The colorful and sparse career of Clara Benin hasn’t gone unnoticed. Releasing a single or two every year, earning a spot on intimate shows in familiar places, translating one of their oldest tracks into a different language, it’s always likely to think that her career has been stable – as in […]
Author: TFL
TRACK REVIEW: Andrea Obscura – Can I Try Again?
Written by Elijah P. Traversing drum machines, lone guitar work, and messages for the messenger crying themselves to sleep, Devices’ very own Andrea Ramos has worked on a promising solo project that equates to a warm summer hug in their fantastic debut single “Can I Try Again?”. Before Andrea Obscura, Ramos has dipped their toes […]
ALBUM REVIEW: Basalt Shrine – From Fiery Tongues
Written by Nikolai Dineros With towering layers of distorted guitars, a consuming diabolic ambiance, and the seething, almost theatrical, vocals – Basalt Shrine paints a gloomy backdrop of the occult through a mix of funeral doom, sludge metal, and many more. Basalt Shrine is a five-person supergroup consisting of members from Dagtum, The Insektlife Cycle, […]
TRACK REVIEW: Sunday Stallone – Saving Face
Written by Louis Pelingen From a distance, there is something fascinating about Sunday Stallone. They’re a 5 man band that was formed in 2018, mostly putting out covers from a few years back. Those covers showcase their musical influences, from DIIV and their dreamy brand of indie rock to Yung Lean and his hypnotic brand […]
TRACK REVIEW: Dilaw – Kaloy
Baguio’s very own Dilaw – consisting of rapper/singer Dilaw and instrumentalist Vie Dela Rosa – is one of those acts where they are taking the internet and their face-to-face show attendees by storm. After signing with Warner as of late, the duo’s byproduct of animated rap-rock and ukay culture prop up folk-rap are shaking up […]
TRACK REVIEW: rienne – Honey
Virginia isn’t too far from home, at least for power-pop solo project rienne. Born and raised in the Philippines, bridging together their fixture for local sensibilities and Western-influenced pop songwriting is their specialty. In the universe where pop acts could exceed amp volumes and the overwhelming college parties, rienne’s isn’t just another act that’s stuck […]
TRACK REVIEW: No Lore – Paumanhin
Siblings Jerald and Tita Halaman are the types to mesh together creative ideas like a blender. Their project No Lore produces a multidisciplinary venture where it requires a sensory experience to their worldbuilding. Tita Halaman and their paintings are always secondary to the accompanying soundscapes. But for No Lore’s case, it’s the other way around. […]
ALBUM REVIEW: Orange & Lemons – La Bulaquena
Written by Elijah P. 15 years is barely one-fifth of a century; trends and events have passed, figures have become monuments, culture has turned itself to the past and we’re here struggling to become a blender of something that happened 30 years ago. The veil of “OPM” is showing itself to become a rehash of […]
TRACK REVIEW: MIKASAN – Snake
Rolling hi-hats, hissing samples, flourishes of Bit-pop – blocky textures that release smoothly in between – and ambient music – the quietest moments are the most deafening effectively; These are all mastered by solo musician and AMP member Mika Santelices also known as Mikasan. So far she’s offered more intrigue than other rising pop musicians […]
TRACK REVIEW: FERVIDS – Sweet Tooth Aching
Written by Nikolai Dineros FERVIDS is one of those lavishly self-indulgent garage rock bands that taste like an espresso shot in the ears – sometimes overkill, sometimes vapid. But it’s the amusement of seeing how they attempt to make it ‘just right’ that makes this band worth checking out if anything. The Legazpi-based band claims […]