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Wong Yuk Han, Huawei Technical Engineer (left), and Mark Brian Suano, Globe Solutions Architect, during the pilot test of 50GPON (50 Gigabit Passive Optical Network) technology.
Composed of Gabby Alipe on vocals and guitar, John Dinopol on lead guitar and back vocals, Lalay Lim on bass and back vocals and JanJan Mendoza on drums, the band was last seen ruling the airwaves in 2009 with The Apparition.
Defined by the Merriam Webster dictionary, the word esoteric means requiring or exhibiting knowledge that is restricted to a small group or difficult to understand. Well, surely, the band knows a thing or two about enthralling rakistas and dubistas from all over the country and they shared the product of their supreme talent with audiophiles with their heaviest and most diverse album to date.
First off, let me get things straight. I am not a professional album reviewer. I do not have any background in dissecting the technical aspects of songs and the albums that they are a part of. I do not know the first thing about riffs, notes, melodies. But in spite of lack of musical know-how, I’ve listened to enough rock albums to know that this 10-track album is in a class all on its own in the local music scene.
As I listened to it, the album took me down a sonic ride that started out fiercely, mellowed down nicely in the middle and finished with a bang. And beyond the stimulating tunes, what resonated with me are the stories behind the songs and the images that they evoke. And simply put, this is Urbandub at their very best.
After working with Angie Rozul of Tracks Studio on their last two albums, Urbandub decided it was time for a change and switched studios, recording Esoteric at the Tower of Doom studios. The change of scenery apparently did wonders and is evident the way the album starts – in rip-roaring yet understated fashion – with the first two tracks Stars Have Aligned and Hover.
Then, there’s the album’s first single – a favorite of mine the moment it released in July – Never Will I Forget, that flat-out takes listeners down a veritable memory lane of shattered dreams and broken hearts from a relationship that showed promise but eventually soured.
Picture this: After years of not seeing your former flame, you bump into her at a mall or down the street. THIS is the song that best encapsulates that image that is playing in your head right now.
And how you ask? The chorus is plain self-explanatory:
Long time no see, I have been waiting
A long time to be away from each other
It's been a long time, but I still remember us
I still remember
Reminisce much?
Moving forward, Urbandub relishes the chance to encourage listeners to take a long, hard look at their emotions with the songs Cold Hearted and Dim The Headlights. Speaking of emotions, there’s my personal favorite of mine from Esoteric, one that has been on perpetual repeat since last week: When Love Is Not An Answer.
Esoteric is a short album, with none of the songs getting past the five-minute mark. But every song is a must-hear; listen intently and let your mind wander. That’s the best way to take in an Urbandub offing.
Jonas Rey N. Panerio
Editor- Lifestyle & Sports
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