Written by Jayne Caray Between shouting nyan’s and near-death experiences, what else can you possibly expect from a cat band? Well, after more than a year of anticipating drops; first with the release of “Reflections after Salem”, followed by “Ate Memy’s Halal Patir” and “Smores”, Pasig’s Salem and the Stellar Cats are finally out of the bag to show you just what they’re capable of with the release of their debut ep, “Salem!”. At its heart, “Salem!” centers on the retelling of songwriter and vocalist Yones’ vibrant life experiences sung in an uncomplicated yet authentic way that would make anti-folk artists of the 2000s proud. Starting off with a snappy droning guitar in “Ate Memy’s Halal Patir”, the band immediately flaunts their kittenish, tongue-in-cheek qualities. Guitarists Vlad and Kiyan’s easily memorable punk riffs serve to retain the high energy of the next song, “C5”. Here, the tight rumblings of Emman’s drums mimic the busy streets of the famed road as the lyrics, quite literally, meows about an unpleasant experience Yones has encountered in which she fears for her life. The EP takes a swift left turn in the second half as it slows down yet arguably features the better and more sentimental tracks of the entire release. “Reflections After Salem” brings a sober introspection on life without Salem. The charmingly quirky instrumentals build up to a Wes Anderson-esque mood while the vocals recall Salem’s precious moments in a monologue buried deep within the production. It’s raw and genuine without brooding too much, mature in its own grieving way. Lastly, “Smores” wraps up the ep with a somber tone. Backed with gorgeous acoustic guitars and single melody synths, its sonically one-note nature only adds to the gut-wrenching and vulnerable musings of an owner missing their feline companion. The track is sentimental and hopeful, strangely evoking the feeling of a peaceful sleep after crying your eyes out. Equally humorous and melancholic, SATSC may have started as the “neophyte gimmick band”, but their wholehearted passion and sheer dedication to the craft have certainly propelled them forward to the next stage. DIY-ing music from scraps of fur, bedroom pop tunes, and personal anecdotes, “Salem!” marks a promising start for a group of cat lovers who breathe just to create. Support the art & the artist:
Category: EPs / MIXTAPES
EP REVIEW: Jikamarie – L0VER G!RL
Written by Elijah P. Jikamarie’s career in the music industry has reached another landmark. Ever since releasing a stellar debut single “Lutang” causing the internet to go head over heels during the lockdown. This immediately positions herself as a must-see act live, especially when Jika and company have opened for arena pop legends Coldplay for two-days straight. She’s also rolled out several singles that either shout the color green or show off the saucy, rhythmically rich vocal chops – it’s safe to say that it’s high time to release a full length release. But before that, “L0VER G!RL” has emerged from her arsenal. The release sounds and looks like a taste test. But the training wheels are off and it is time to showcase more of her genuine artistic side. For over the past 3 years, Jikamarie did what she could to make it to the top of the r&b food chain, emerging talents like Illest Morena, Denise Julia and Jason Dhakal all have their fair share of grace and fanbase. However, Jikamarie does it with a musical oomph and visual aesthetic cherry picked like it was a careful K-Pop reveal calendar. At the pace of these single releases in the past year, there’s momentum to all of this like it was cinema; themes of yearning in a garden of eden-type setting, giant butterflies walking across a hypnotic graveyard, what have yous. “L0VER G!RL” in particular is a debut that any r&b head wouldn’t miss. Or so they thought they would. “L0VER G1RL” starts off at a strong note with “gusto kita”, the vocal performance having its backseat. However, the following track “HINAHANAP-HANAP” was startling with its mixing inconsistency. This, in a way, slightly ruins the listening experience. Like a sore thumb sticking out of its colorful production – that’s trap-laden and dancehall inspired – tailored for Jika’s vocal finesse. At first, this was a listening experience error that would be easily brushed off by the casual listener, but this inconsistency has repeated twice by the back half of the EP, most noticeable in “lito” and “bawi na lang sa next life”. Whether or not this volume level clipping was intentional, it was hard to dismiss the talent Jika showed in this EP. It was less on experimentation and letting loose but it was more of reveling in the art of pop songwriting; the trap drums, the smooth, airy synths, and the tastefully harmonized vocals. Surely, the fundamentals were in full display but filler was sitting pretty in the midst of its soaring momentum. “L0VER G!RL” had its highs such as “DKSI” and “HINAHANAP-HANAP”, surprisingly zero lows, but the EP as a whole has its noticeably average writing loophole. There’s ease to her runs and curls but it’s hard to mask it all up when the structure has no strong staying power. It’s easy to escape the notion of being a lazy songwriter, but it’s troubling to go beyond being an afterthought, all the more a forgettable r&b musician in this day and age. And like all pop music, “L0VER G!RL” is best enjoyed in bite-sized pieces. Support the art & the artist:
EP REVIEW: vice* – syzygy
Written by Elijah P. Electronic artist and singer-songwriter vice* laces together the heartaches of emo-rap and the intricacies of glitch pop into a neatly tied debut EP. In a world where the Lil Peeps and Wicca Phase Spring Eternals have shifted into heavier and denser material, there exists a younger and fresh breed of producers hopping on the stepping stones of the aforementioned artists, and vice* is one of those fresh artists alley-ooping themselves to the grander playing field. In debut EP “syzygy”, the 6-track project constantly builds a world of its own; it finds itself deconstructed, intentionally self-destructing and implodes everywhere. But the end result is it finds a place to fall sprucely. The possibilities of this project falling under banal, predictable pacing and lyrics are slim. There’s potent pop writing to be found in “syzygy”; In “hit me!”, trance and math-rock chords find themselves in constant harmony with each other while “takeUdown” forces the shattering, glitchy, frying pan percussions to shine among the poppy hooks. “inner me” showcases a more straightforward, lesser noise in the forefront but capitalizing on melodic writing at the combat zone. If you think about it carefully, for the project to escape the monotony of emo-rap and its cliches, vice* opens a new window of possibility in terms of blending emotive vocals through explosive, maximalist production. vice* can range from distressing to level-headed delivery, the production does most of the talking. Prancing past the familiarity of what emo-pop and emo-rap did during the mid 2010s Soundcloud explosion, vice* knows how to structure a full-length release from its hyper highs to its emotionally-charged tamer back half. The first half of the project has found its comfort zone, linking together genre labels and ultimately liquifying those same labels, forging into something groundbreaking in the end. From front to back, vice* has a unit behind him that’s supported him from the very start, eventually creating a sonically rich project that can possibly stand the test of time. With vice* being in the 2020s, there’s a balance in the world of experimental pop and hip-hop. SUPPORT THE ART & THE ARTIST:
EP REVIEW: Toots – Jargon State
There’s a lot to process in “Jargon State” – the debut EP of alternative-rock and indie-folk solo act Toots. For listeners, this may sound like the typical coming-of-age project in the form of a Donnie Darko-inspired backdrop. For Toots, it’s not easy being green; He embraces his own worth, the age that he’s in, and the surroundings that engulf the sonic palette throughout the EP as well. It’s as rewarding as it is an adventure to course through. “Jargon State” is a five-track debut EP worth keeping. Written and recorded during the periodic times of searching for himself in a strong emotional tidal wave; it’s either during the search for a peace of mind or wrestling against a bigger force. But in “Jargon State”, Toots has proven himself lyrically otherwise that it’s okay to let things sit, gradually waiting for the storm to turn into a calmer state of mind. From the alienation themes of closer “Jargon State” to the angsty dissatisfaction of the stellar opener of “Fall”, there’s a lot to pick up in terms of production and instrumental choices in this project. In “Hide and Seek”, the loud-quiet-loud dynamic has found a perfect balance; Acoustic guitars morphing into a heavier, more robust electric guitar. In “Memory is a Trap”, you have the intensifying yet gentle accompaniment of the protagonist’s vocals and his trusty guitar, “Shell” and its pop structure make you lift your spirits at an all time high. Toots’ varying levels of vocal delivery are the obvious highlights through and through. But on the surface level, the relationship between the instrument and the artist are its greatest assets in “Jargon State”. As you listen to the EP more, you’ll start to notice that he has triumphantly submitted several acts of catharsis whether it would be distorted vocals, plucked sections of intimacy and synths weaving across a verse filled with several trains of thoughts. “Jargon State” has all whatever variables of intimacy you can find in an indie-rock record. There’s vulnerability than there is shattering, off-putting states of emotion. A resolution with a fine-tuned ending. A heroes’ redemption arc with the added human, adulting themes. Carved like Ben Gibbard but determined like a Built to Spill narrator, Toots is in his own league in his debut outing. Support the art & the artist:
EP REVIEW: MAKI – TANONG
Written by Elijah P. Tarsier Records’ Maki ticks a lot of boxes for the casual pop r&b stan. Think of Jonas Brothers adopting Zack Tabudlo’s falsettos and the result of that amalgamation is the young singer-songwriter himself. After earning a fair amount of virality throughout Spotify playlists and movie soundtracks earlier in the year, the young up-and-comer has a lot of things to unpack and undoing in his debut EP titled “Tanong” – a 5-track exercise of questions that’s hellbent on asking the true meaning of love. Quite cheesy and cliche on paper. However, from the actual listening perspective of it, the EP is actually cut from the same cloth as his contemporaries – painfully similar yet eerily mimicking those who came before him. The EP opens with an intro titled “Sigurado?” – welcoming the listeners with a question albeit a weird fade out that interrupts the immersive listening experience. One thing that listeners should absolutely question is the mere fact why the intro is even necessary to begin with. Moving along to the flow of the EP are one-dimensional tracks: the viral hit “Saan?”, “Bakit?” and “Kailan?”. If the listeners would tell from the bright production, “childlike” and playful songwriting and neverending falsettos, they wouldn’t tell the difference of how easily distinguishable this sound palette is in the year 2023. Even if you pale this to Zack Tabudlo in comparison, you would go as far as calling them blood brothers of genericness at this point. There’s not even a single lick of difference or variety listening to “TANONG” due to the fact that Maki does not even dare to go outside of the box in this release. Although, there are commendable production choices such as the punchy, upbeat “Saan?”, but that’s about it when it comes to highlights more than there are lowlights, some parts of the EP might as well be called “midlights” just because they are substandard, mediocre and borderline background music for a normal Baguio trip. Support the art & the artist:
EP REVIEW: Precal Dropouts – Little One, Travel Far
Written By Elijah P. Davao City’s Precal Dropouts are easy to spot in the current crop of local shoegaze, dream pop and post-punk revival bands. You have guitarists Josh and Jan Mark and bassist Ben going back and forth in scorching riffages and swells higher than the altitude of a souvlaki space station. In their debut EP “Little One, Travel Far”, the three-track project feels less of an overdue and more of an arrival right on time in the shoegaze-dreampop canon. Their sensibilities can go beyond the gazing distortion and winding chords; there are prog influences here and cohesion there. Precal Dropouts might as well become the unit that’s become new-fashioned and refreshing among their scene contemporaries. The result of “Little One, Travel Far” and its intended songwriting are ripe enough to achieve the level of ambition as far as shoegaze/dreampop goes; Josh’s wave-causing riffages are enough to combat John Mark and Ben’s driving instrumentals. There’s actual synergy happening behind the noise and we’re here for all of it. The aughts post-punk influenced title track is a sonic introductory to the band: fast, interlocking fuzz and distortions and reverberated yet not overbearing vocals. “Stay…It’s Eventide” hangs on tight with its buildup ready to bust down some soundproof walls. The last and centerpiece of the entire EP “There & Back Again” are filled with guitar solos after the other, sprinkling the track with colorful arpeggios and impressive technical skill displayed by its beautifully arranged rhythm section. It’s safe to say that there aren’t any hiccups and overlapping melodies that ruin any of the noise, it’s as straightforward as any shoegaze record in the 2020s could get; Genuine friendship can make up the best product of art, but Josh, Jan Mark and Ben are the best of friends even if the pedals are off in “Little One, Travel Far”. Support the art & the artist:
EP REVIEW: Shockpoint – Rhythm Zero
Written by Louis Pelingen Right from the jump, Shockpoint breaks things apart like a Titan pummeling its way through with its heavy fists. They demonstrate their handle on Metallic Hardcore on their 3 track demo last year, equipping themselves with all forms of rage that they can muster; shredding everything apart as the drums crumble, guitars seethe, and vocals thrashing amongst the decaying, fatalist destruction around them. If this is how much they can crush things down just based on their demo, what awaits their path in their future will be dealt with with more bulk in their core. In ‘New creature is born…’, the track immerses itself into what Shockpoint is heading into with this EP; the vocal sample narrating the crudeness that awaits them as they trod along with riffs sparking and grinding with the drum beating sparingly alongside it. In short, this EP throttles itself even further in chewing away the scums of the Earth, using fierce guitar riffings, rumbling drum beats, and anguished vocals to Shockpoint’s advantage. Within 15 minutes of its time, the band charges onward with no consideration for respite or cool down as they willingly brute their targets down with their violent ferocity; intensifying even further as they go deeper, humanity’s cruelty exposing itself at every turn. ‘Annihilating Your Dogma’ is essentially a takedown for pro-life mentality, the chugging guitar riffs and driving drums allow the shrieking anger of the vocals to break apart the individuals within that putrid mentality. ‘Fatal Impulse’ is based upon a video showing an interrogation of a rapist and the stabbing that comes afterward, a disturbance that makes its way to its violent imagery of the lyrics as the overall track stings thanks to its rapid guitar shredding, pulsating drum patterns, and howling vocals. Tracks like ‘Parasaethesia’, ‘Rhythm Zero’, and ‘Software Gore’ revolve around the performance art itself. ‘Parasaethesia’ takes to a slower yet noisier soundscape as the guitars get noisier and the drums get sharper. ‘Rhythm Zero’ cuts through religious pleas as the vocals are at their most unburdened and ravenous, accompanied by rapid-fire drum breakdowns and guitar ravishings. While the EP and its cavernous crushing atmosphere come in and out from time to time, “Rhythm Zero” mostly holds up due to its consistent takedowns of the caustic mentalities that surround in the most open and in the most subtle of places. It manages to not exhaust its formidable energy but to let that rage simmer and break apart the cruelty that wraps everything and everyone in its wake. Support the art & the artist: https://shockpointhc.bandcamp.com/album/rhythm-zero Rhythm Zero by Shockpoint
EP REVIEW: Goon Lagoon – Rocket Peace
Written by Nikolai Dineros Elev8 Me L8r has no shortage of young, explosive rock-oriented bands to their name, but Goon Lagoon’s unapologetic take on grunge harkening back to the genre’s ‘90s roots proves to be their one defining aspect. The last couple of years has also shown us bits and pieces of what the band has going for with their sound (with varying degrees of success), with 2022’s Machine Gun being their most notable. In one of our previous reviews, we highlighted the song for its off-kilter motif and chaotic twists and turns. Now, with the release of Rocket Peace, Goon Lagoon’s identity is much clearer — and what used to be the band’s best work is now a part of something bigger. As the Goon Lagoon hype ele8ed (sorry) with gig announcements alongside this EP launch, so did Machine Gun’s cult fame, while a slightly superior Down The Drain seeped through the cracks as the band’s best material to date. “Down the Drain” is in-your-face in almost every way, with its muffled vocals, infectious riff, and drowning levels of flangers. Amid the chaos and noise, the songs in Rocket Peace have a lullaby quality reminiscent of Sonic Youth, with guitar solos and synths aplenty. This is especially the case with the closing track “Pocket Grease,” which I assume is a wordplay on the record’s name or the other way around. ‘Rocket Peace’ is so full of surprises that it’s almost criminal of me to include that in this review, as the EP’s explosiveness is what the record is built upon; each surprise comes when you least expect them. And when they do, they hit you at just the right spot. SUPPORT THE ART & THE ARTIST:
EP REVIEW: Dilaw – Sansinukob
Written by Elijah P. The romanticization of the “universe” or the “universal” depends on the current conditions of the artist. Whether or not you come from a higher place in the Alps or from ground-level urban areas, this “universe” the artist is pertaining to might be a bubble that hasn’t burst yet. And this bubble we’re talking about is “Sansinukob”, a 6-track debut project from the fast-rising 5-piece outfit Dilaw. Coming from the province of Benguet, the then-Baguio duo of Dilaw has now expanded into a full unit, equipped with extra members to solidify their tighter material. What is left of Dilaw Obrero’s quips and qualms on the higher-ups and government officials made room for more material and slightly tolerable material about love, the galaxy being yours, or just being yourself in general. “Sansinukob” is an exhibition of Dilaw’s lyrical prowess and powerful stage presence both live and on record. With the title track suddenly showing its sudden double-time tempo right smack dab in the middle of the track, there’s experimentation sitting right in the bridges of Dilaw’s structures. The band isn’t a backing band; they’ve brought heavy and tighter skill to the table, and it goes without saying that the band has a lot to show other than their chief singer-songwriter. In “3019” and “Kaloy”, Dilaw ping-pongs aggressively back-to-back in tracks with the former talking about corruption (the numbers at the title literally mean Republic Act 3019, The Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) and the former taking the perspective of an individual on a downward spiral due to the surroundings affecting them. Both of these tracks sit right in the middle of the EP, making almost no connections or storyline threading to the previous title track, making not one but two sore thumbs stick out in the project. “Maskara” suffers the same fate as the two conscious rap tracks: defanging the biting power an artist has to call an initiative to go against the grain and demand for change. And now we get to the popular track — arguably the most popular track of the now — “Uhaw”. Backed by a ton of guitar licks, Obrero’s shivering and quivering journey for love. This shows that Obrero and company can write actual semi-ballads with no unnecessary tongue-twisting verses. But the need to have two versions in the same EP is cashing in on the hype, shamelessly including both the same songs just to reactivate some streaming numbers. Neither the defense of having two versions for narrative purposes barely helps in making “Sansinukob” any better. This isn’t a multiverse the MCU wants in terms of bringing two songs of the same feather. If anything, Dilaw’s shown so much impressive technical skill. Whether we like it or not, the band has the muscle and brain to think of cleverly written guitar lines, drum breaks, floating synths, and groovy basslines. However, there are songs that work to the rest of the song’s detriment, including the precious hitmaker. The EP is basically just “Uhaw” and friends. There’s nothing wrong with admitting that the EP is only in the public consciousness for That One Song. However, in what seems to be the most laughable twist of fate, the universe has a way of responding to its namesake. The band does not have the soul to breathe life to anything more than “Uhaw” Again, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with being a one-trick pony. However, for all its neighs and whinnies, this horse came out limping. Support the art and the artist:
EP REVIEW: LORY – Cramped
Written by Elijah P. Terno Recording’s wunderkind Lory has stepped out of his comfort zone from being a lone bedroom pop producer from Parañaque to becoming a full blown three-piece with added layers in the mix. In his latest EP “Cramped”, you get to see Mikee Mendoza becoming more lethargic-sounding, scooping all the gruff and making his surroundings a bit louder, albeit a bit rougher than usual. He’s grown to unlike the pop fluff and embrace much of the textures. It’s almost getting there, it just needs a little stir in the pot. In other words, Lory and his friends just need a little bit of spoiled choices in soundscapes rather than choose to spoil the party entirely in reflection of past material. “Cramped” is treated as a sampler to Mikee’s next endeavors for his solo project rather than a bookend to his phase of city pop. Moving on to greater and bigger soundscapes rather than staying in the four corners of his room, you have tracks like “Huli Na Ba Kayo”, “Di Siguro” and “The Sun” embracing all the noise and continuously experimenting what he can do as a musician. Is the EP an “achievement” of sorts? Listeners would doubt its pop resonance and bright textures and would possibly question its length, but “Cramped” is more of an intentional practice of sorts. In “Slow Down”, you’ll be surprised by how this sounds like it should stay from the previous EP. Confidence is what is lacking in Mikee’s presence and maybe a bit of a looser and more liberating use of vocal filters to make Mikee’s voice shine as well as his lead guitars. But as his deadpan delivery persists in the latter half of the EP, the voice becomes a grower in a sense where Mikee’s voice does shine if you look at it in a more uncharismatic-charismatic lens. LORY’s “Cramped” has its ups and downs but to the project’s benefit, the reception is enough to not dismiss the project entirely for the lack of trying and enthusiasm being brought. There are guitar lines and synths being put to good use and maybe “Cramped” is seen better as Mikee’s ground zero compared to what the debut project was at the dawn of the post-lockdown last year. Support the art and the artist: