Eclectic beats for every taste: a roundup of music by Pinoys
SIMILAR OBJECTS
Acquainted with the Light: Excursions through the World Within
Twenty-four-year old Jorge Juan B. Wieneke used to sing in a punk band. For the past few years though, he has morphed into a laptop artist who goes by the nom de musique Similar Objects. His transition from ranting howler to mood music maker must have been challenging in itself.
Active Rockers: The current offering is a mini-album composed of 5 proper tracks and 4 remixes of the track “Infantil.” On his copious notes on bandcamp.com, Wieneke describes his latest EP to be a “body of work encapsulating the life events of the author that occurred between February - July of 2013.”
Lyrics-free to a fault, it’s electronica that billows and shuttles between soft music for meditation and background soundscape for doing chores such as washing the car. Videogame sounds occasionally slip into each track, taking the linear music to slight mood shifts.
Flatliners. Excuse the pun but the music on the album is already flatlined to the wavelength of bubbly electronica.
The Verdict. The pleasure is in discovering subtleties, cool sound structures and playful rhythms.
Listen to the mini album and download here.
KASTIGO
Hail and Kill: Live at Handle Bar
Kastigo is a five-piece all-Filipino rock band that’s been around since 2005. Their latest album, a live gig in a local bar, is released through the US-based label Coda Entertainment which was put up by former Wolfgang Wolf Gemora and two of his siblings.
Active Rockers. The band is into melodic hard rock that bears influences from the proto pop-metal of Kiss and Van Halen to the harder driving power metal of the 90s wing
of the new wave of European heavy metal. There’s even the rush of prime glam rock in the lead guitarist’s clustering of hook-lined electric chords. The vocalist sings in typical badgering style and he has no love for growls or shrieks that have become pretty standard among today’s boundary-bending doom-and-drone bands.
Flatliners. It’s not metal for headbanging and if rock ballads do not agree with your purist pedal-to-the-metal heart, you may have to skip two of the better-arranged songs.
The Verdict. It’s hard rock to be enjoyed in spite of lyrics that spill inner thoughts on personal ruin and despondency.
Preview and download the live album here.
HANNI EL KHATIB
Head in the Dirt
Of Palestinian and Filipino descent, El Khatib grew up in San Francisco where he got drawn to the skater community. He would later become a marketing executive for a skateboard fashion label.
Active Rockers. A previous album drew inspiration from 50s rock and roll. His latest weaves in and out of the expanded “Nuggets,” a series of albums of garage rock singles
originally curated by Patti Smith Group’s Lenny Kaye. There are mostly 60s garage rock references and the few digressions go for straight rock and roll or the Motown girl group/doo wop sound. Highlights are “Nobody Move” with its heady collision of reggae and fuzztone and “House on Fire” which resonates with the wiry punch of late ‘70s punk rock.
Flatliners. Track after track carries a whiff of old-time rock and roll. Nostalgia will stop the young generation dead s tracks but remember, such a throwback hasn’t stopped the likes of retro-active The White Stripes from earning critical approval and chart success.
The Verdict. Forget about reminders of music that has gone down the pike before. Stay with the beat and rhythm instead and let Hanni’s psychedelic time warp be your
passport to a whole new world of retro-fun.
Read more Pinoy Rocks:
Investors wanted for first Pinoy-penned musical to debut in London
Banda ni Kleggy’s ‘jolly pop’ disco
10 things to know about Kjwan on their 10th anniversary
Save Me Hollywood is pop, punk and not like the movies
