Again, Indie, Again (A Review)


It's certainly been a while since I was last able to listen to some good indie OPM.

What's my excuse?

 Well, there's that I have decided to focus on my career for the past 5 years, and that I don't get to go to gigs as often as before. And yes, I admit age and the love of precious sleep have something to do with that as well.

 So my exposure to the Pinoy indie scene had been quite limited of late. I acquainted myself with the international indie scene instead (thanks to Spotify). And while I would have loved to rekindle my relationship with indie OPM, I thought I've gone too far out to return—add to that I don't know who to look for anymore (most of the bands I know have gone on to other endeavors).

 So, thank you, Diamond, for guiding me back to the current Pinoy indie scene and pointing me to the right direction(s) on Spotify. Much, much, appreciated.

Now, Diamond has eased me in by recommending three of her current faves. My assignment? Just listen, and appreciate.

 So, I did.


TheSunManager: Of Coffee Cups Back Home

 Listening to TheSunManager's EP makes me want to get up, visit my hometown's local cafe, order a steaming mug of brewed coffee, settle down in one of the mish mash of tables and chairs, look out the window and smile.

Then, TheSunManager would be my good companion as I go pondering the human experience—particularly about love, loss, resilience, persistence and healing—as I take a sip of my favorite caffeine fix. Now, add a dash of raindrops tapping at the window and the scene would be complete for a music video.

 That's how I had felt while listening to the EP. TheSunManager takes me and my imagination for a ride through the life of a person that has experienced several of the many facets of love.

I had my hopes brought up with Peaks and Tides, only to be gently led to the realization that later on there will be stories of bruised hearts and tears. And yet, in the end, there is, again, hope and the promise of better days, which I gather from In Darkness.

And if ever I get the chance to meet TheSunManager in person, I would probably look at her, smile, and say, “You know, you might not believe me right now, but things will be okay.”

 Yes. Out of the blue like that.
Tom's Story: A Tale of Tom Today

 Whoever Tom is, he or she (what? I don't discriminate) tells one heck of a story through music.

 I think it brilliant to come out with an album that does away with lyrics to feature just music. Tom's Story with their self-titled album allows a story (duh?) to unfold through rhythm and melody. It romances the mind, engaging and encouraging it to imagine and paint vivid scenes about Tom's life.

Well, at least, that's what happened to me.

 Tom's Story draws me into, for me, scenes about a day in the life of someone (perhaps Tom in this case). The whole album is like the OST for a movie about that someone's life.
For example, while listening to Anchors, I imagine a morning scene, where Tom wakes up in his/her (again, I don't discriminate) bed—with crumpled white linens, pillows with spots of drool, and a blanket hanging on the side, touching the floor. Tom's day begins.

 Then Dream until Light show us—or me—how Tom's day unfurls. Perhaps, s/he gets up to do his/her morning rituals to face an initially mundane seeming day—perhaps there's a scheduled meet-up with the beau there somewhere. Then by House and VL Raza, conflict is introduced—tampuhan ganyan.

 Seyda Neen is the part of the movie where there is conflict resolution. Insert montage here.

Then Feathers leads us to the climax until the end scene.

 Role credits with Mugatu.

 Ladies and gentlemen, the film in my head that is Tom's Story.


Ransom Collective: A Serious Case of the Happies

 Can I just confess? Because of sheer ignorance, I only happened to find out that The Ransom Collective is a group of Pinoys quite recently.

 See how out of touch I am with the Pinoy indie scene?

 It's as my subtitle suggests. Listening to The Ransom Collective's songs can bring about a serious case of the happies.

 Imagine a road trip with friends characterized by long stretches of highways, a bright and sunny horizon and rolled down windows so the wind can caress your face. That is The Ransom Collective's music to me.

 It makes me want to climb mountains so I can brush my hand against sun dried cogon grass along the trail. It makes me want to run freely through meadows, without a care in the world. It makes me want to hop on the next bus and go to Liwliwa, Zambales to surf. It makes me—you guessed it—happy.

 And I don't know if this is appropriate to say about their music, but for me, all of The Ransom Collective's songs can be used for a wedding SDE. They are perfect soundtracks for one of the most blissful days in the life of a person—or a couple in this instance.

 You want to have an awesome day? Listen to the Ransom Collective in the morning.

I love that my journey towards Pinoy indie has begun again. I hope that this is just the beginning of many more assignments to come. Looking forward to many more recommendations.

 Again, Diamond, thank you.

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