Written by Adrian Jade Francisco Nearly a decade into their career, septuplet pop-rock Lola Amour became an act you would hear anywhere. Like any other band, their breakthrough came only when lightning struck—and it poured. The “Raining in Manila” fever took over the Philippines as the rainy season did. Syncopated brass, snappy basslines, and everywhere you turned, you’d hear “It’s been raining in Manila, hindi ka ba nilalamig?” Now, with Lola Amour’s reach extending to a wider audience, their once-local charm began to take on a metamorphosis in ‘Love on Loop.’ The act decides to groove unmistakably pop, for better or worse, under a runtime of thirty minutes. Unlike their previous releases, the groovy, jam-like jazz fusion detours are almost nowhere to be found across the band’s sophomore album. If Lola Amour’s 2024 self-titled album was their ticket to the mainstream, ‘Love On Loop’ showcases how they navigate their pop sensibilities. The production is pressed into something unrecognizably sleek; their penchant for cheesy lyrics remains intact, but a part of their previous refined sonic identity moves away. Supplanted by drum machines and a noticeable absence of the explosive instrumental sections that once defined their sound—a tilt toward a polished pop direction. While “Raining in Manila” anchored the ensemble’s ability as a cohesive band, the tracks on ‘Love On Loop’ strip away that dynamic to the point where the group feels almost unrecognizable in “One Day Away” or “The Moment.” On the other hand, “Misbehave” and “Dance With My Mistakes” slip into more recognizable arrangements, attempting to assert the band’s reinvention. They throw in funky jabs with a pop-oriented sensibility, while the title track, “Love On Loop,” flirts with bossa nova rhythms. However, for all its catchiness, it lacks the space for Lola Amour to feel loose—to hear their dynamic as a band. There’s a fragile equilibrium at play, tapping into their potential as a mainstream outfit under producers Hyuk Shin and CUURLEYOn, but shedding much of the group’s defining sonic character throughout the album. It’s a balancing act between identity and accessibility, coming at the cost of the interplay that once gave them their edge. Lola Amour proves their pop instincts are sharper than ever, but they lose the very friction that once made them compelling. ‘Love On Loop’ is a confident leap toward the mainstream—one that brings only half of the band’s heart along for the ride. SUPPORT THE ART & THE ARTIST:
Tag: Lola Amour
TRACK REVIEW: Lola Amour – Raining in Manila
Written by Elijah P. Metro Manila hitmakers Lola Amour have changed musically, literally. From shifting band members to constant codeswitching in songwriting here and there, the funky pop outfit are trained to release one single at a time. One hit after the other, the Al James collab “Madali” was almost getting there, which is by the way their most technically robust, while “Fallin” was still riding on the cheese, but “Raining in Manila” is a whole different offering. You have senti-tracks that act as fodder for the label while you have refined genre tracks with pop sensibilities that have successful appeal. This band chose the latter. This is the band that isn’t just compartmentalized with their vocalist Pio Dumayas. There’s no separation anxiety happening nor any solo spotlight, instead, we get to see Lola Amour work like an actual band in their latest single. “Raining in Manila” nearly does not drag as their previous singles years ago. Assuming that their lineup change has anything to do with the sound they’re persistently tweaking, Lola Amour’s hit the jackpot at the seasonal turn that’s lowkey a love letter written for their previous band members who are on the other side of the planet. The band plays with the theme of a cheese-driven weather parochial along with their tasteful selection of keyboard licks, sharp bass lines, and saxophone parts, all hitting the spot. Minus the Dilaws and the Sunkissed Lolas, scene virtuoso Lola Amour and “Raining in Manila” is a step in the direction for the band who are moving to become the biggest pop band heading to the mainstream. Support the art & the artist: