Something About 5 Bands and 10 of Another Kind!

Back in the year 1989, it was almost the end of the 80s era and the start of a new decade...and just before the jump to the great unknown, another great compilation was released in Manila that year called "10 of Another Kind". This compilation featured 5 bands with 2 songs each. This was originally released in vinyl and cassette formats under WEA Records Inc. but was eventually re-released by Universal Records in CD format after a few years (unfortunately, no specific year was indicated on the CD version except for the original LP release-date, although I'm betting it was around 1994 or 1995). Having appeared in different independent compilations and performing in non-commercial venues, the bands that are featured here can be described as underground music veterans.

The First band on the compilation is Deans December. They originally released a cassette only album called Chemical Wedding in 1986. The two songs that they featured in this album are "Healing" and "I Read The News". The band's members on this release are Binky Lampano (vocals), Richard Cabauhatan (guitars), Jun Lazo (bass) and Pol Benitez (drums).

The second band is another one of my personal favourites. A band called Ethnic Faces. The band is made up of Jack Sikat (vocals), Rhany Torres (bass) and Jayvee Torres (drums). Even before this compilation was out in the market, the band had already produced and released their very own original 7" single and on this album they will feature 2 more original songs called "Golden Boy" and "Balikbayan". Combining new wave, post-punk, and jazz influences they would make more songs that are featured in other compilations and they would eventually release an album by mid-90s. If the ending phrases of the two songs here don't stick to your sub-conscious then there is definitely something wrong with you.

Under Blue Skies is the third band, featuring two great, upbeat post-punk songs, recalling early New Wave called "Falling" and "Under Blue Skies". Band members are Nathan Miguel (vocals), George Arguelles (guitars & keyboards), Dennis Ramos (bass), Robert Salva (drums) and Edwin Vergarra (guitar). Unfortunately, this is the only band in the compilation that never released a full album, but never say never because a collection of old and unreleased songs can always be compiled for a release (I'm hoping for one in the future anyway!) .

Violent Playground is also a veteran band in the underground music scene. Here they have two great songs called "Never the Bright Lights" and "Tupperware Party. They'll re-release these songs in their full length debut album by 1996 but the versions will be totally reworked songs. I'd still prefer these versions or their rougher, faster versions that were released a few years earlier. The members were Jeoffrey Roa (vocals), Raton Del Gallego (guitars), Mali Andres (bass) and Boom Jose (drums).

Last of the bands is Introvoys, this compilation contains two of their early songs called "Just A Dream" and "Lullabye". They did release a 7" single of "I Go Crazy" (a Flesh For Lulu cover) during their initial formation but they would eventually make several albums during the 90s. Members are Jonathan Buencamino (vocals), 3rd-G Cristobal (1st guitar), Ira Cruz (2nd guitar), Jobert Buencamino(bass)m J.J. Buencamino (keyboards) and Paco Arespacochaga (drums)
All five bands toured Manila's Colleges and Universities to promote this album and I saw several of them but unfortunately I haven't personally seen or heard any live recordings from that tour. I'm pretty sure some wise music fan eventually videotaped or made copies of the songs during those college heydays.

As much as this album was hailed as a good sign that the major labels were finally taking notice of Manila's underground music scene at that time, some music fans still preferred the original independently released raw versions of some of the songs that were featured here. Some found the production of the songs here as too slick and commercialized especially after hearing some of the songs in their original release specifically in another classic cassette compilation of Manila post-punk bands called Subterranean Romance. Songs like "Tupperware Party", "Golden Boy", "Falling" and "Healing" were featured here while "I Read The News" was originally released in the band's album and "Never The Bright Lights" had a raw, faster demo version that they used to play in DWRT 99.5 FM in the mid to late 80s.

Various Artists - 10 Of Another Kind
(LP/1989/WEA Records/P-94569/PH)
(Cass./Universal Records/M5P-94569/PH)
(CD/Universal Records/CDP-94569/PH)

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1. Healing - Deans December
2. Golden Boy - Ethnic Faces
3. Falling - Under Blue Skies
4. Never The Bright Lights - Violent Playground
5. Just A Dream - Introvoys
6. I Read The News - Deans December
7. Balik Bayan - Ethnic Faces
8. Under Blue Skies - Under Blue Skies
9. Tuppeware Party - Violent Playground
10. Lullabye - Introvoys