Cro-Mags! Got this EP of early demos.

For the completist! Got this extended play of early Cro-Mags demos. 

At the Squid 9 launch for their cassette album, Circuit Shorts. Route 196 Sept 27

The music was even better live!

Women lead new underground rock releases

Women lead new underground rock releases

by rick olivares

Some of the more recent and interesting releases all coincidentally feature women. There are hardcore bands Choke Cocoi, Tiger Pussy, Drama, and metalcore band, Brace Yourselves who prominently feature women.

Who says that only the men can blast your ear drums to mush? Here are three underground releases that you might want to check out.

Choke Cocoi/Tiger Pussy split record

Released by several underground labels (Violent Delights and Aklasan Records from the USA, Dangerous Goods from Singapore, and Delusion of Terror, Love from Hate, and Still Ill from the Philippines), this split 7-inch record features three tracks on one side by Lucena-natives Choke Cocoi and the other by Cebu-based Tiger Pussy.

While each side is blistering in their delivery, their songs are different.

It is up to you to make what you want of Choke Cocoi’s songs “Gera”, “Gangstah Layp”, and “Pacifist”. Whether there are political undertones to the songs is your own interpretation. But make no mistake, the band rolls with an urgency to their militancy.

Tiger Pussy is a little more existential in their songs. They ask you to examine yourself from within in a poetic way that makes it even more appealing (perhaps due to the arty nature of lead singer Jan Sunday).

This split record is also important because it is the second such one to feature female fronted or dominated bands. A few years ago, there was also the split 7-inch of bands Random Violence and Value Lasts.

Drama (self-titled cassette from Aklasan Records USA and available locally from Mutilated Noise Records)

This San Francisco based trio features Fil-Americans Monica Ramos on guitar and vocals and Krista on bass and American Aimee Cruciphix on drums.

Their debut EP on cassette featured six tracks of pissed off punk rock with tortured and distorted vocals that remind me of the Sex Pistols minus the theatrics.

Dive by Brace Yourselves

Metalcore band, Brace Yourselves’ debut album, Dive, is also out. If you like foreign bands like Otep, Archenemy, or early new millennium metal acts then you’ll like this. Heavy and dark stuff. Not for the faint of heart. Lead singer Lala Rot alternates between singing and growling with a masculine bent.

You can check out their album on the band’s Facebook page bracexyourselves (note the “x” in the middle).

Space Jam is one of my fave soundtracks

Not only is Space Jam an enjoyable film, but the two-disc soundtrack is damn good. Loving the colored vinyl too! Each disc has a different color. Not bad! 

Catching up with Marcus Adoro

Catching up with Marcus Adoro

by rick olivares

When you think of former Eraserheads guitarist Marcus Adoro, you’d probably think of his Bohemian nature. He was one musician who didn’t care much for the trappings of success. He lived the life of relative obscurity when he relocated to La Union to live the life of a surfer.

“I became a Beach Boy,” he quipped last Tuesday night outside the Pablo Gallery inside Cubao X where former bandmate Rayms Marasigan and his electronic band, Squid 9, was holding a listening party for their new album. “I lived the life of what the Beach Boys sang about.”

Eventually, the music bug bit him and Adoro returned with Markus Highway that combines rock and surf music. “A soundtrack to my life at that time.”

Make no mistake, Adoro still surfs and he has his own hidey-hole in San Juan, La Union, but right now, he has his hands full on two other things.

Right now, Marcus is doing some bit acting with an actual speaking role in Timmy Harn’s upcoming film, Dog Days: Pinoy Hoop Dreams about an Amerasian chasing a dream that takes him on a journey.

“It’s a mixed genre that is exciting,” succinctly put Marcus who has had bit cameos and appearance over the years, but this one has more meat into the acting bones. “Meron challenges, but it is fun.”

And he also is putting a new guitar and blues-based band together. Adoro was only recently able to acquire a female lead. “Sa ngayon, aayusin muna namin yung mga kanta bago kami mag-gig or record.”

“Then, balik ako ng La Union this weekend – to surf.”

Marcus laughs.

You have to appreciate this musician who marches to the beat of his own drum; unmindful of trends.

We talk about Squid 9’s new album Circuit Shorts, and Adoro talks about his initial foray into the genre. “Nung na-introduce ako electronic music, I felt born again,” he revealed. “Alam ko lang mag-gitara, pero heto wala akong alam. Ang daming butones. Tignan natin kung ano kaya.”

Under the name, Electronic Coups, the music sounded at times like 1980s German band, Trio, and at times, ambient as Adoro made use of samples from ordinary noise like ceiling fans to GI Joe films. “Parang mood music din yung electronica. Kukuha ka ng inspirasyon sa pang-araw-araw na buhay.”

He admits to missing it and inspired by Squid 9’s new work. There was a gleam in Adoro’s eyes as he listened to the music. He raised his beer can in the direction of Marasigan and smiled. “I hope to go back into it. Maybe not soon, but in the near future.”

“Marami kaming mga hilig,” he said of his old bandmates. “Kahit naman si Ely (Buendia) at Buddy (Zabala). We all have our passions and we want to do as much as we can while we can. Meron ako mga interests na hindi ko basta basta na-share kasi mas low profile ako. But hopefully soon, regular na ulit yung tugtugan.”

Marcus also noted that his former bandmates have released their new work on vinyl and cassette; something he admits is on his bucket list.

“Soon. Soon. Sa tamang oras maglalabas din tayo. But who knows, maybe sa eight-track para todo na!”

Marcus Adoro laughed. He drank what was left of his beer and disappeared into the night.

Playing Counting Crows' August and Everything After on its 25th Anniversary

There was a time in my life when I played this album at least once a week. I still listen to it but not as much as I used to. Loving it all over again as this album celebrates its 25th b-day this September. I am next in line to the throne of the Rain King.

Electronic trio Squid 9’s new album has a Japanese vibe

Electronic trio Squid 9’s new album has a Japanese vibe

by rick olivares

Electronic trio, Squid 9 returns with their most adventurous effort yet in Circuit Shorts. The new album, out on an eye-catching green cassette with a transparent case with red lettering, is at once intensely personal and different for its Japanese themes and inspirations.

The result isn’t quite Lost in Translation (Sophia Coppola’s film and soundtrack masterpieces), but a cousin to the third degree.

There’s more to the return to the analogue format where all three members of Squid 9 – Rayms Marasigan, Shinji Tanaka, and Daren Lim – grew up listening to.

It’s just that Circuit Shorts more personal nature.

All eight tracks have samples and snippets of old Japanese music spiced with actual conversations in Nihongo that Tanaka had with people he personally knows. One conversation in particular is especially personal because it is the last one Shinji had with his father, Yoshiharu, before he passed away.

“I went back to Japan to visit my family,” related Tanaka in Filipino of which he speaks fluently. “When I got back to Manila, naisip ko na tawagan ko siya. Nung time na yun di ko alam na mamamatay na siya. Gusto ko lang din marinig boses niya. Ni-record ko yung usapan namin… wala lang. Hindi ko alam na huling pag-uusap namin yun.”

That conversation along with many others find their way into every track, cut up, dissected, and even muffled. Save for the one with his father where the elder Tanaka’s voice is more audible on the track, “Railways” the second track off Side B of the cassette.

Circuit Shorts is in fact, dedicated to Shinji’s father.

Using the voices wasn’t a difficult decision divulged Shinji. His request was to lower the sampled voices in the final product. “For us, they were sounds because we didn’t understand them,” chimed in Marasigan. “But for Shinji, it was different. Something personal because he understood every word and they meant something.”

The idea of using of conversations as parts of the song came midway during the album’s production.

“Shinji started it when he gave me pieces of old Japanese music that we cut up,” bared Marasigan. “Daren and I had some brand new gear. Nag-crash course kami into the use of these machines. Trial and error with the samples Shinji gave and we formed the songs.”

And Squid 9 arranged for a listening party last Tuesday evening at the Pablo Gallery inside Cubao X. While I prefer listening to the music in the dead of the night and peering out into the black, I have to admit that sitting in a room with a bunch of other writers and munching on pizza wasn’t so bad.

Circuit Shorts is an album like an urban soundtrack to modern and high tech Japan. And yet, ironically, on analogue.

Squid 9 has always pushed the envelope on their releases. Their debut, Ink Jet, saw the album out on compact disc. The sophomore outing, Origamidi, was in a USB and a beautiful pink can. And now it’s on cassette; one that had its set of challenges as the band had to scour for C-30 (30 minute tapes) and dubbing machines.

“While it will be on streaming, we think it’s cool to have it on cassette which we all know is making a comeback as well,” chipped in Daren Lim.

Make no mistake, it is no gimmick. It’s brilliant, in fact. As for the music, it is at once, upbeat and eclectic. Even the song titles reflect the trademark J-factor weird titles such as “I am Milk,” “Forever Few,” “Frog Rest,” and “Asthma Tax” so you know that Squid 9 is in tune with the Japanese influence and that they do not lose their sense of humor.

The music is no laughing matter. If Side A had this pop confectionary and at times, arcade feel, Side B is where it picks up. The songs shift gears and the time signature changes means it isn’t repetitive to the point of being boring (hey, there’s a Pet Shop Boys reference).

“Frog Rest” has the vibe of someone working while the television is on and slurping on ramen.

“Railways” picks it up a notch and it’s like going on a trip and this wave of excitement and anticipation hits you. And I think of Shinji taking a trip with his father.

And I love the fact that Shinji plays live drums not only on this track, but in the entire album (for live shows and depending on the space given, Tanaka admits that he’ll be using drum machines).

“Asthma Tax” has a more danceable beat to it.

The final track, slows things down a notch and has this Radiohead vibe circa Amnesiac. And it’s a good way to end the album because it gives you pause to think, “Ah, a sense of mystery. So, what’s next from Squid 9?”

Indeed.

As Shinji told me at the end of the listening party, Squid 9 should hit the studio again to record. Flush with inspiration, I wonder for what is to come.

But for now, Circuit Shorts, is something I will play in the dead of the night while peering out into the black with my mind wandering with Japanese whispers in my ears.

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Circuit Shorts will be sold for P300 at Satchmi and the launch this September 27 at Route 196