KIYO, Haranasa
On his first full-length album, Filipino underground hip-hop sensation Kiyo delivers a spectrum of sounds, from lo-fi rap to trap, experimental hip-hop to tropical jazz, ambient electronica to bedroom pop. Even better, he expresses love through the prism of colorful lyrics that go beyond the clichés of the moon-in-June and Till death do us part variety. That is, urban flow is all over this freshman effort.
In the dub-splashed “Hey,” featured rapper Shortone describes the object of love: “Tila chicken neck ng tinola na yung sabaw nakakagaling sa akin.” The elegant pop behind “Ikaw Lang” offers why she’s the one—“Bukod sa aking nanay, ikaw lang ang tumawag sa akin ng guwapo,” Self-esteem aka love thyself is a key motto underscoring “G.” The diverse shuffle of music and words makes “Haranasa” a memorable debut from an important artist.
NONENTITIES, Autonimbus
Billed as a punk band in some online music platforms, five-man Pinoy band Nonentities actually recharge classic hard rock tropes with punkish punch and energy. They match the musical fury with passionate lyrics that swing from the personal to the political.
“Witness The Shedding” opens blazing and furious. As the stampeding music rages, the frontman rants, “Rights denied/They want us deaf and blind and numb and mute/To perpetuate the abuse.” Shoegaze scrapes the metal attack of “Joy Unknowable” and the mainman comes through with this Sisyphean despair: All I want is to stand firm in spite of it all/But how could I when there’s no solid ground to stand on.” Nonentities may occupy a mongrel territory in heavy metal but they flex a serious muscle to stand above the thriving competition.
ELVIS COSTELLO & THE IMPOSTERS, The Boy Named If
There’s passion in the music, acidic wit in the messages and eclectic styling in his voice. The easy bet is that the now 67-year old Elvis Costello is recapturing the essences of his younger brash self. It’s perhaps his way of discovering the elixir of eternal youth and the fact remains that Costello’s latest album comes out after decades of dalliances with country, jazz and pop.
So surprise, surprise. Elvis Costello, with the help of close associates including foremost mates keyboardist Steve Nieve and drummer Pete Thomsas, is still a bracing proposition in this day and age. Despite recording the tracks remotely, Elvis and crew manage to bring on the snappy rock and roll of “Farewell OK,” the Beatlesque pop-rock of “”Penelope Halfpenny,” and the country lament of “Turn Red to Blue.” In the quietly plaintive “Magnificent Hurt,” Costello sings, “But the pain that I felt, lеt me know I’m alive/And I openеd my heart to the way you make me feel.” Yessir, this year’s model, 32nd in his discography, proves Elvis Costello’s aim continues to be true.
VARIOUS ARTISTS, Netflix Cowboy Bebop Soundtrack
An accompanying music compilation to the Cowboy Bebop TV show, it’s actually a sampler from the Japanese anime of the same title. It is said that original composer Yoko Kanno used only 10% of the music from the anime series for the Netflix version and in the hands of jazz band Seatbelts playing in top form, those mere ten percent just about captures Ms. Kanno’s groundbreaking vision. Outstanding tracks include the James Bond-ish swagger of “Tank,’ the nostalgic melancholy of “Rain” and veiled menace behind “The Real Folk Blues.”
The Velvet Underground: Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack
Curated by the documentary’s director Todd Hanes himself, this OST features songs from the landmark first album of the Velvet Underground plus rarities and artists who influenced the seminal band further acclaimed to have influenced by now, a gazillion other rock groups to get started. VU favorites like “Venus in Furs,” “Pale Blue Eyes,” and “All Tomorrow’s Parties” are here as well as Bo Didley’s “Roadrunner,” The Diablos’ doowop classic, “The Wind” and Nico’s “Chelsea Girl.”
I’ll Be Your Mirror – A Tribute To The Velvet Underground And Nico
A host of contemporary musicians pays tribute to one of the greatest bands of all time whose debut release sold only 30,000 copies in five years. In a press release, primary curator Hal Willner was quoted to have said he wanted to present “the love and care he felt for his late friend Lou Reed to be evident on every note on the tribute album.” REM’s Michael Stipe does an idiosyncratic revision of the otherwise playful “Monday Morning,” Andrew Bird and Lucius’ “Venus in Furs” is an abstract electro-acoustic experience while “Heroin” covered by Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore with Primal Scream’s Bobbie Gillespie explores the potential going from a whisper to a scream to a mighty roar to fade out.
Most albums reviewed can be listened to on most digital platforms, especially bandcamp.