There is now massive interest in Brownman Revival thanks to its reggae take on the Eraserheads original Maling Akala. Reggae with a Pinoy flavor is the avowed music of the group and the lilting arrangement it gave Maling Akala evokes fun, fun, fun and gives a new spin to the old tune. Truth to tell listeners caught up with the beat knew they have heard the song before but couldn’t place where because it sounds so different. Now there is nothing Filipino about reggae which originated from the Caribbean but we do share the same tropical weather and lighthearted approach to life approximated by reggae and our native music.
Of course, Brownman Revival reggae is nothing like the real thing introduced to the pop charts by the great Bob Marley. The mold for Steady Lang comes from the more commercial stuff usually dished out by UB40’s Red Red Wine and Big Mountain’s Baby I Love Your Ways. It is smooth, light and very danceable. But I believe that Maling Akala was able to successfully tap into the similarities between the two regions and we were happy enough to get caught in the reggae beat.
Brownman Revival is a big group. It is composed of Dennis Concepcion on drums and back-up vocals, Jao Lanon on bass, Kenneth Gonzales on keyboards, Januarie Sundiang on percussions, Alphy Desaville on guitars and back-up vocals, Jayson Cuevas on trombone, Jojo Antinero on sax, Ambet Abundo on trumpet and Dino Concepcion on vocals. Unlike some of the newer bands, Brownman Revival seems to know its music judging from the able handling to the reggae arrangements and the solid performances in the album.
Maling Akala is the first hit out of Steady Lang. Two other old songs were taken on a reggae trip. These are Binibini, a big hit by the Rainmakers and Ikaw Lang ang Aking Mahal, a ballad popularized by VST&Co. The originals in the album are no less inviting. These are Lintik, Ikaw Forever, Dahan Dahan, Gusto Mo Pa, Ngayong Gabi, Salarin, Jeggae and Under the Reggae Moon, a composition by Dino which sounds like it would make a very strong follow-up single to Maling Akala.
The album includes Biyaheng Reggae, featuring Ayana Oliva, Ragarabo, featuring Mike Swift, Para Sa ‘yo, White Sand Beach, featuring Gio Alvarez, Bulong ng Damdamin, also featuring Ayana, Evolve It by MC Dash; All That We Have featuring Sammy Asuncion of SPY, Let It From Within, Straight No Chaser and Celebrate Your Life.