Written by Louis Pelingen Let’s all be blunt: there’s nothing wrong when pop-rock band MoonDream City starts embracing experimentation and throwing a ridiculous number of ideas at the wall. In order to eventually find artistic growth, it’s always a good thing for an artist to just test the waters in whatever genre or style shift they’re trying to approach and go from there, where eventually, they’ll be able to find some focus after trying whatever diversion they’re digging into. Experimentation could either be a hit or a miss. It could be successful or novel. There’s no in between. This eventually extends to how an act markets a shift in their sound that doesn’t always mean it’s bound to be the next “new genre,” an intriguing observation in forming a unique distinction amongst their contemporaries, even if this marketing trick will be a double-edged sword. Garnering the reactions that they might want, but not exactly the ones they’ll need long-term. These observations are relevant to Bon Jubert and Muntinlupa Jazzcore Society, acts that operate under the recently coined “ebascore”, a newly formed sound that loosely combines socially aware themes alongside jazz, funk, metal, and spoken poetry elements, then displays all of them with novelty and flashiness. MoonDream City’s ‘Road Song’ is a recent addition to this, throwing away their pop-rock instincts and replacing them with intense vocal shouts that toss between nu-metal, jazz, and funk grooves. On the basis of the finesse and volume alone, the song definitely pulls the listener into the whirling chaos that the band brings to the surface. A brief enough tune that unleashes emotional wallow and technical verve, but doesn’t exactly do much more with the compositions. Serving as a direction that brings the band to something new, but with the way the song is promoted paired with the hollowness of “ebascore”, the track falls apart really fast. What fails with the band’s attempt for their stylistic shift is twofold: one is the social commentary that’s given with vague winks, relying upon shouty complaints rather than precisely delving deeper into what made commuting such a hellscape for everyone. It may unleash those enraged emotions, yet their observation feels short-sighted and individualistic. Focusing a lot more on losing one’s beep card, switching from another FX, waiting for a less crowded jeepney, and lacking change to pay for a trike. A presentation of everyday occurrences that don’t offer much depth about the issue being discussed. But the more concerning issue is the flashy presentation that shrinks the execution to a mush. Bringing raw intensity that disguises the lack of structured melodies, flashy musicianship that simultaneously becomes self-indulgent, various genre fusions that are stitched in a half-baked way –- all of which only leads to the novelty of the sound borrowed from spoken-word style of Radioactive Sago Project or The Axel Pinpin Propaganda Machine ending up flimsy and surface-level, delivered in a neutered manner that doesn’t try to reach the verbosity and the melodic flourish of such acts. Leaving the output to end up like a sketched out impression of those sonic reference points, rather than allowing the band to take bigger risks and go for broke with their stylistic shift. To the band’s credit, it is a curious diversion from wherever they’re aiming to go in the future, yet the general ironic promotion and how it translates to the music only results in a song whose novelty and flash don’t bring more to what it’s being hyped about from the start. What ‘Road City’ — and the general “ebascore” trend as a whole — unfortunately sounds like an Oscar-nominated flick that aims to bring deeper themes, but once watched, the actual insights end up shallow and self-impressed. Stuffing technical stylism more than injecting substance into its thematic essence. Support the art and the artist:
Author: Louis Pelingen
MIXTAPE REVIEW: orteus – surgery
Written by Anika Maculangan As digicore begins to rise above its niche alcove with more artists like quinn, ericdoa, and blackwinterwells are starting to take on the genre. In surgery, orteus rides on the wave of Silent Hill’s aesthetic of liminal decay, implementing grunge tonalities that complement those glitchy overtones, we so often hear in hyperpop. While the thematic elements are depressing, dark, and bleak, fast-paced drum loops and maximalist synth lines counteract the gloominess that is rather highlighted, creating reactions that are antithetical to one another, but somehow complementary. Jam-packed with strong distortion and vocaloid, it’s almost eerie and unsettling to hear such distressing lyrics accompanied by such sweet instrumentals. But isn’t that the point of ‘eyestraincore’? Be vastly chaotic? Much like the internet, these facets are deliberately made to be in opposition to one another in hopes of creating that purposeful clash. With atmospheric qualities that are in reference to medical diction, layers of deep bass and snappy percussion, these elements amplify the depth, which allude to such concepts of artificiality and post-dystopia. In surgery, orteus collaborates with other artists, who mostly become evident in the treatment of vocals — some scaling from high-pitched, to more ‘soundcloud rap’ adjacent. This range among the tracks orchestrates a sense of diversity, which ensures that the flow doesn’t remain too monotonous to the standard rhythmic chops of 808s and pixelated effectors. Looking at songs like “you can’t just wait to be in a coma”, which have words that start to mish-mash into one another, the auditory mayhem is most recognizable, practically wreaking havoc on our ears, but in a fashion that’s considerably inspired and expressive. Incorporating these exaggerated motifs, while including such features as pronounced auto-tune and emphasis on trap-like inflections, the EP fits in well with the rest of the genre’s offerings. It isn’t inherently anything new or fresh, for its recycling of overused processes and manipulations within digicore, but it does take after the movement successfully, and guarantees that it treats it with respect. However, it goes without saying that the EP is more reflective of nightcore and crunkcore, especially since it focuses so much on steampunk-derived sensibilities. But one can wish that digicore projects may eventually try to be more daring in their progression as they evolve, since the whole point is to essentially employ a new approach to pop music. What bold nature would there be if we stick to the same accents? orteus could make do with further amplifying their usage of certain characteristics like the sharpening of reverb or application of intentional static in specific breaks. These are all modes of execution that, if better utilized, could make their sound more sonically creative. However, orteus was able to demonstrate a slight edge to her music: the abrupt pauses in between the tracklist. These random bouts of open air instigate a pause that leaves the listener cautious of when the next abrasive but dreamy beat may drop. Going through the album, the listener is constantly presented with an extensive span of oscillations. Although with a new digicore artist, there is always more potential and possibility for inventive patterns that either modify or disrupt the pre-existing. Support the art and the artist:
ALBUM REVIEW: Fatigued – Negative Tide
Written by Adrian Jade Francisco The debut album from Fatigued arrives not with a bang, but with a whisper — yet its emotional resonance is anything but quiet. Nearly five years later, Emilio Gonzales’ solo project approaches to submerge us in the sentimental undercurrent of ‘Negative Tide’. Fatigued’s ten-track album is an introspective indie pop journey through uncertainty and quiet resilience, reflecting the experiences of the musician during the hectic process of ‘Negative Tide’. The opening track, “Oversized Words,” explores the struggle of articulating emotions and emotional disconnection in presence of hazy guitars, which is a prevalent theme throughout the release. A notable track “Temples” is a poignant commentary on the difficulty of self-improvement, expressing discontent with social expectations or conventions. Leaning on instrumentation, and the lyrics take a subtler, more restrained approach in “Take the Beating,” establishes the plea of emotional exile the best; the lines “Send me / To a home I used to be / Alone with my thoughts” echoes the theme of the album’s title and tone. What makes the track compelling is its stripped-back approach and emotional honesty holds back just enough to let the listener linger in the tension, the ache, and the silence of resignation. Fatigued channels his influences into something distinctively personal, crafting a sound that serves as a vessel for his ruminations. “Instant Disconnection” serves as a conclusion to its themes of inner turmoil and emotional exhaustion. While the album as a whole leans into a consistent mood of bleak introspection, it offers a subtle shift: not necessarily toward resolution, but toward resignation or quiet acceptance. The strength indeed lies in its thematic consistency and emotional honesty. Gonzales does not shy away from exploring discomfort and vulnerability. The lyrical quality is not overly abstract, making the weight of the tracks accessible and relatable to the listener. However, while the songs blend into one another, it lacks further dynamic shifts that could cover more emotional and sonic textures. The middle section of the album lacks space for experimentation; However, its sincerity and homage to the genre is still intact. ‘Negative Tide’ is a compelling indie pop monologue of emotional unrest. Fatigued’s sophomore album doesn’t just express vulnerability but inhabits it fully. The album has an unwavering commitment to thematic consistency and emotional transparency. Gonzales lives in a world where discomfort is explored with sincerity and grit, the band shows no signs of exhaustion — if anything Fatigued’s creative tide is still rising. For an album steeped in emotional unrest, it ends with remarkable clarity. Support the art and the artist:
TRACK REVIEW: tuesday trinkets – Cigarettes, Beer, & Stray Cats
Written by Noelle Alarcon Davao-based trio tuesday trinkets possess an eclectic demeanor to their name. Each of their heads is tinged with neon, and their personalities are written all over their cover art; From the distinctive ways they dress to the playful doodles over their faces. Their sound on the other hand? A promising, syrupy brand of power pop that would reverberate through the end of a 2000s chick flick. Endearing and reminiscent of good times long forgotten, like a trinket you dig up from a coat pocket on a random Tuesday. “Cigarettes, Beer, and Stray Cats,” tuesday trinkets’ debut single, is a bright, beaming introduction to what they have to offer. The plush guitar welcomes you: it’s fuzzed out enough to welcome you into a cozy atmosphere, but sharp enough to be radio-friendly. It’s a tasteful style akin to the way record label Dirty Hit crafts the whimsy of early aughts pop for the 21st century. Even the bass and drums are simple enough to let the song’s message shine through, zeroing in on delivering as much impact as possible. The thumping of the strings marches along the frets, a catchy bassline in between the tracks that makes way for the snare drum-drenched rhythm evoking as much nostalgia as it can. The band’s capabilities of writing catchy pop are audibly from experience; their influences undeniably nestle in between the lines. As early as their first single, they know how to tweak the blueprint to match their strengths. Their written word captures the zeitgeist of what it means to date in your youth. Smoking a pack of cigarettes together, feeding cats you consider your babies, and living for nothing else but the moment. It’s a love story plucked straight from Polaroids and crumpled, handwritten letters with promises written in cursive. Sure, there are plenty of other songs that sound like this one–but their awareness of what makes a song memorable shows that they’re headed in the right direction. It’s the simplicity of their approach that easily touches the listener. “Cigarettes, beer, and stray cats…” — the lyric echoes throughout the track until its conclusion. It’s such a simple set of words, but with the way tuesday trinkets paints the scene, they end up as components of moments you’ll relive until your very last breath. With a band as capable as them when it comes to invoking sentimentality, those who like to look back have a new shoulder to cry on. Whenever things get too heavy, there’s a pack of Marlboro reds, a cold bottle of beer, and a bunch of felines waiting to rest with you. Support the art and the artist:
TRACK REVIEW: Andrea Obscura – Garden
Written by Gabriel Bagahansol After two years of inactivity, indie pop singer-songwriter Andrea Obscura re-emerges with a track that sees her manifesting the affection of a lover to settle down and—much like vines on a fence—grow together. True to this song’s name, her latest single conjures images of a garden teeming with life, cultivated by a loving couple through a lifetime of care and attention. All the parts that make up this song were performed with a marked tenderness. Electric guitars radiate like gentle sunlight over plants rooted to the ground by a steady rhythm section. These plants, of course, are the words Andrea would love to say to the person she wants to grow this garden with. Flanked by many-layered vocals, she lets them know in simple terms just how much she pines for their company, how willing she is to open herself up for this person, and how the search for their intimacy has left her weak and restless. From the song’s midpoint onwards, a hook is sung like an incantation, as though she were summoning her future lover right in the middle of that very garden. The purity of Andrea’s desires and intentions manifests itself in the clean production of this recording, which graces the ears with clarity and at just the right volume. Here, she tends to an ecosystem of lush melodies with a careful but confident touch, and a voice so delicate, it almost puts the song at risk of fleeting away like a cloud in a clear sky. But just as much as a plant needs the right amount of sun and water to grow well, these are all what the song needs to bloom life out of your speakers. Calling back to the landscapes painted with words by romantics so long ago, “Garden” is for those who want to devote a part of their lives to someone in a very special place. Listen to this song a few times, and you just might start waltzing with an imaginary lover somewhere in a grassy field over and over until, one day, somebody’s holding on to your arms in a dance only the two of you will know very well. Support the art and the artist:
TRACK REVIEW: Novocrane – Safe and Sound
Written by Rory Marshall Following the release of their first single “Imaginary Party”, Bacolod’s budding rock project Novocrane doubles down on their dream pop style with their second-ever single “Safe and Sound”. Studious listeners will remember a bare-bones version of the track being teased a year ago on their Soundcloud under the name “from there,” but now it’s polished with their aesthetic that meshes indie rock and dream pop. In contrast to their first single, “Safe and Sound” takes an introspective turn and looks inward. The song tackles the conundrum of self-isolation. Kai Sevillano, the band’s lead, gives the listener a front row seat to her thought process, presenting the quandary ruminating in her mind: While one can find refuge in being alone, the suffocating demand for human connection is ever-present. The songwriting adds a layer of candidness to the words that is evocative of an anxiety-induced trail of thought and gives room to showcase her warm and intimate vocals. The vocal performance and poignant lyrics are only accentuated by the marriage of indie rock and dream pop, which is becoming a defining feature for Novocrane’s overall sound. The way the band coalesces the grungy guitar and high-attack drums with bright, glittery synths drowned in reverb creates an atmosphere of angst that will make you bob your head while you rethink your approach to relationships. In combination with Sevillano’s resonant vocal performance, it yields such a cohesive sound that it’s hard to believe that this is just their second release. “Safe and Sound,” along with their previous single “Imaginary Party,” lays a promising groundwork for the Novocrane’s growth. Their charming soundscape has once again proven to be a welcome addition to the indie scene. With this track being only their second-ever official release, fans are eager to see how they expand on this fusion of genres in future projects. Support the art and the artist:
TRACK REVIEW: Tatz Maven – Handang Malunod Sa’yo
Written by Louis Pelingen The years since Tatz Maven’s debut album have seen him explore more of his range as an artist. Still sharp in terms of his production work, but his attempt to sing more and emphasize a melodic direction on his compositions has been fascinating to listen to. An attempt that has clearly shown its strides, releasing more songs since 2020 in a slow yet steady approach that allows more time to bring out the best of his artistic growth. And with the recent release of “Handang Malunod Sa’yo”, this song only reinforces the fact that Tatz Maven is on his A-game as a producer right now. The sharp drum lines playing amidst strong bass lines and guitar swerves are produced impeccably, with Tatz Maven’s vocal lines showing a lot of coursing melody and emotional zest. Remarkably, bringing out the complicated feeling of traversing through a partner’s melancholy, where even if it can be emotionally suffocating, the willingness to stand beside them despite it all only strengthens their connection. While it may still take a while before Tatz Maven is ready to turn that past crop of singles into a project, “Handang Malunod Sa’yo” is a sheer force of will punching through one of his staggering songs to date. Compelling from so many angles, where even the vastness of the sea can’t pull it down. It’s worth the dive. Support the art and the artist:
ALBUM REVIEW: WAIIAN – BACKSHOTS
Written by Louis Pelingen There’s always this itching frustration that comes with Waiian’s overall projects, as there lingers a big potential for him to put out something striking that, unfortunately, has the habit of casually evading, where as much as he can exude this brand of charisma that’s effortless and easy to listen to, his records never take the next step of breaking out of its comfort zone. Relying upon the relaxed vibes to a fault that the overall solid set of production, writing, and performances only gets to wink out a distinct flair from time to time, most especially coming off of ‘WEYAAT?’ that manages to switch up sonic palettes and can compliment Waiian’s understated sense of wit and flow. His consistent characteristics keep the quality to a high floor, but not exactly a high ceiling. Fortunately, all of that eventually changes with his newest album, BACKSHOTS. Continuing on keeping the record just as brief as his last record, but there is an exceeding amount of surprising shift towards the overall presentation of this ridiculously titled album – bringing out all sorts of looser expressions and larger-than-life beats that allow Waiian to be at his most energetic, humorous, and just having so much fun in his rapping and singing abilities. Now that it is also paired with melodies and instrumentation that has so much light, yet bouncy flair, it only adds so much for these brisk songs to just flex with memorable moments, like the buzzy synths and pumping baile funk style beat on “MALAKING BIRD” which elevates Waiian’s prideful delivery even further, the soft synth chords amidst nimble bass grooves of “MAN IN THE MIRROR”, the lighter acoustics that twiddles around Waiian’s softer singing on “LOSE MY NUMBER”, the lowkey groove that gives Waiian and Nicole Anjela’s vocal chemistry to brush up well on “SOFTIE”, the whirring bass and sharper drums of “MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES”, the playful synths and drums that add to Waiian’s overblown attitude and ridiculous ad-libs on “ASAN NA SI…”, and the buoyant melodic chops and bubbly grooves of “SI LODS NA BAHALA” that overshadows just how quaintly mixed the guitar riffs sound. What’s also worth noting is just how Waiian’s overall writing bumps up considerably now that he has allowed his energy to be more carefree and bright, yet never exactly sacrificing the wit and humor that has been bubbling in a lot of his lyricism in his past records, just now amplified in clear-cut measure. This eventually reveals more depth to his bars, where he can utilize that earnestly goofy side to indeed make so much laughter with every one-liner he drops, but also emphasize the softness that men tend to shun in their lives – which tends to bring more harm to them than good – as well as critique said men for relying so much on their ego and swagger in the rap scene that doesn’t exactly come off as genuine, more so alienate themselves from connecting with people around them and stray away to making a stable career path that doesn’t have to rely upon riding their rap dreams. It’s the kind of insight that does come honestly from Waiian himself, where his self-awareness of being an artist also bleeds through his persona, unveiling more of his tender emotions as a result. With a tightly knit construction, a loosely snickering attitude, and hard bustling melodies, it’s without a doubt that Waiian finally manages to hit a grand slam with BACKSHOTS. Ripping open the laid-back persona he tends to chew upon and just letting his well-considered humorous wit be even more emphasized, all accompanied by his most refreshing production and beats to date. After swinging with various hits and misses in the past, this big bird has finally hit the sweet spot. SUPPORT THE ART AND THE ARTIST:
TRACK REVIEW: kyleaux – NOTICE ME
Written by Louis Pelingen Stepping outside the dense smoke of his past releases, “NOTICE ME” acts as the next progression for kyleaux’s creative prowess. Replacing rapid warbles with sleeker R&B cadences that compliment his desire for romantic attention, one that requires a level of inviting charisma that Kyleaux proves to handle in potent strides. Paired with the nimble bass groove, shimmering synths, and textured boom-bap percussion, it coalesces to Kyleaux’s melodic arsenal, instantly pulling the attention of the listener into the song. It may be a little bit quaint mixing-wise – especially around kyleaux’s vocals – yet the overall melody coming through his vocals and his instrumental is silk as butter. This results in said quaint mixing becoming a feature rather than a weakness of this whole song, a deceptive magic under kyleaux’s growing bag of tricks. One that’s worth noticing further as he constructs more of these low-key yet delightful songs. SUPPORT THE ART AND THE ARTIST:
TRACK REVIEW: Ame – Ipagpatawad Mo
Written by Louis Pelingen In treading back towards the nostalgic 60s rock ‘n roll, Ame manages to fit themselves well, as their musical prowess shows how well-equipped they are in approaching this sound on“Ipagpatawad Mo.” From Zarviel’s hollering vocal presence that firmly cries his call for affection, the blustering blues rock progression and wild guitar solos, stomping drum rhythms, as well as the occasional bright piano lines and vibraslap rattles. They all check out the boxes of what makes that era of rock ‘n roll quite compelling and runs with an all-killer, no-filler direction. The other part of what allows the tune to punch through is the production. Having Max Cinco and Paulo Agudelo doing most of the production duties alongside Sam Marquez handling the mixing and mastering duties means that most of the instrumentation lets their vibrant melodies shine through without overlapping with one another. The emphasis is on “most” however, where despite the already colorful mix, the dynamics could’ve been just a bit more spaced out, as the bright piano lines do get trampled over with the low-end and various guitar sections being so flashy and excessive. “Ipagpatawad Mo” is the kind of nostalgic callback where it’s clear that the band knows enough of the sound to recreate it with good intentions. It’s a straightforward attempt for sure, yet it allows Ame to flex more of their musicianship as they stray away from the mild pop soundscapes that they’ve started with. That shift to explore more melodic intricacies is, at the very least, a kind of forgiveness worth accepting. SUPPORT THE ART AND THE ARTIST: