The lighter side of the Moon

Moonstar 88: Press to Play

This latest effort from the three-year-old group transcends style. And this is probably because they have none at all. Now people can take that anyway they want to because I don’t give a damn.

In any case, Moonstar 88 has prided itself from being a shadow above many alternative rock bands on the simple fact that the group’s playing is as tight as a water tank in South Africa. Definitely a good thing, but the lack of a mode sometimes erodes the listener as to what he is listening to.

In a jingle, one can hear obvious influences from the Beatles or other Britpop acts. And in another, the aura of the old 10,000 Maniacs comes into place. Having said that, let us try not to take anything more from the band because I’m quite into their music. You see, I had the chance to interview all four members the other week and I ended up knowing the bassist and drummer outside the scene (I ran into them at a music studio). The foursome was down-to-earth and bright, and answered my ordinary questions with depth —making me sound cooler than I really am. Thanks, guys.

However, that article will be reserved for next week so I better get to where I’m headed.

"Press to Play" was released a few months ago and settled itself rather peacefully into record stores until the first single Sulat hit the airwaves. Very radio-friendly and easy-listening, the song became an instant hit (of course the video featuring Maui Taylor didn’t hurt either).

Penned by their guitarist Herbert Hernandez, it talked about an "open-ended" relationship with a girl (at least that’s what I think it meant). Excellent backing from the other band members makes this one a standard in my book.

Besides, the band’s singer Acel Bisa delivers a very stunning and melodious vocal.

As expected the song helped boost the sales of the album, which, even without Sulat, could still be considered quite a piece of work. It starts off with a charming ditty called Sabi Mo and has hints of a "beatbox" tone.

Sayang and Timeless Peace then shuffle into gear before the mailman comes knocking with the said single. It is said that Acel writes most of the lyrics, and she could possibly blossom into an even better lyricist with age and experience.

Actually, the band shares the music-writing department down the line. Paolo Bernardo (bass) and William Pineda (drums) contribute a couple of nice numbers to the record. I usually have four tracks in the album that I regularly want to listen to. Aside from Sulat, my other favorites include More Than That, Lonely Tree, and a nice cover version of the classic Ang Pag-ibig Kong Ito. Moonstar 88 totally dictates how the particular track should end up, but the members wisely do not go overboard.

They could have discarded one or two fillers from the album — particularly the final entry Huwag Na Muna, but I guess it’ll have to do. The sound recording is superb, as producer Robert Javier (bass player for The Youth?) did a terrific job in taking care of the mixing and overdubbing process.

Hernandez, Bernardo, and Pineda certainly lay the foundation of the band with earnest and straightforward playing — not counting several gorgeous licks they came up with. But the star of the show is still obviously Ms. Bisa, and I’m pretty much sure she can handle it.

"Press to Play" does not really showcase the style or characteristic of the group itself but instead takes the listener into a whirlwind carousel of different musical inclinations and influences. Cynics would say it takes a lot out of the concept of being a band in the first place, and they might have a point on that one. But never has a local group such as Moonstar 88 managed to carelessly wither away what they should really sound like and still have the playing chops to make this record quite memorable.

Rating: 8/10

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Comments, requests, donations (he he), marriage proposals? E-mail me at reuben_matthew@hotmail.com.