Ear Repair to Go
The so-called "Sound of the South" has indeed penetrated the once exclusively Manila rock scene with breakthrough bands such as Urbandub, The Ambassadors, and Jr. Kilat. And now, another fresh new band hailing from Cebu is set to raise the bar of creating music in the Philippines. This band is FASPITCH -- a five piece band comprised of Trevor Bicknell on bass, Pacco Manreal on drums, Russell Manaloto and Patrick Berganos on guitars, and Henry Allen on vocals.
I've just recently picked up a copy of their debut album (I know, I should've bought a copy last year), "The Future of Ear Repair," and I must say that I was completely blown away by the band's cut throat precision and unadulterated audacity in making music. Their debut album contains fourteen tracks, ten of which are full-length tracks while the other four are fillers.
This gut-wrenching journey of an album kicks off with a hard pounding track "Make Love". Russell Manaloto and Patrick Bergano's dreamy guitar playing that suddenly shifts to a full-blown pandemonium of aggressive riffs create a wonderful tension with Henry Allen's lulling and haunting vocals that revolve around uncertainty and desperation (Break up / What happens to me now? / Sweet love / You can't go away / Break up / what happens to me / No I don't know what to do with you). "A Day Before Pisces" on the other hand, seems to be a more introspective journey towards the self with reference to the beloved that is dotted with lush lyrical imagery from Henry Allen's writing (I'm waiting for the pen / to come up here again / and devour me whole / They're screaming to the gods / and they're screaming for the gods. / I just wanna know if you're okay / I just wanna know if you're alright / Ain't you?).
"Dweller," meanwhile, is a testosterone-loaded song with its bass-driven melody perfectly blended with commanding guitar riffs and accentuated by images that are rich with frustrated sexual innuendos (How should I know? / I've got a hard-on for the microphone / I've got a hard-on for her / But no she won't blow!). The fourth track in the album, "Breathe," again blends hard pounding drum patterns, progressive guitar riffs, and an almost shaman-like chanting of the words "breathe" and "dream" in the chorus, which all make this a solid track.
Quality harmonic precision by the band is apparent on "Alone" while "All Under Heaven" showcases the bands capability to produce layers upon layers of chaotic aural assaults while still maintaining a good sense of harmony. This particular track also dishes out piercing words that are perfectly coupled with restrained singing on the verses and escalates to an orgy of emotions on the chorus (You never told me I could cry / Now cry away with me / We'll cry into the sky / Now up we go / Now up we go / Coz no one cares).
"Staying This Way" has one of the most authoritative openings with its angst-driven riffs that suddenly becomes entangled with the bass and drums' explosion. "Namesake" is another adrenalin-inducing track with its fast and hard opening which soon leads to Henry Allen's almost soulful vocals on the chorus. "No Holding Back" offers a tinge of rhythmic progression with its broken drum patterns and heavy guitar chords. "Hunger," on the other hand, is a more laid-back tune, for it features different layers of sound from varying musical instruments (e.g. percuss ions/synth). However, it soon betrays the listener's impression, for it suddenly morphs into aural mayhem at its chorus. Gabby Alipe also lends his voice in this track, further adding a distinct texture on the song's overall mood.
The Future of Ear Repair attests to Faspitch's ardent passion in creating original music. It also serves as a solid testament that the distinct explosive Sound of the South has conquered the Philippine's capital. It will be no suprise then if in the future, the world shall suffer from ear repair, too.
Last 10 posts
June 15th, 2007, 03:57 PM
Faspitch (The Future of Ear Repair)
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