MUST LISTEN: Tip of Your Tongue by Porcelain Raft

I don't expect my readers to agree in eveything I post on this blog. But this one is an exception and I want everyone who's reading this right now to agree with me that Tip of Your Tongue is one of the best songs I've featured.

If you're a big fan of Beach House, it's time to hit the stop button and make some room for another act that does justice to the genre that not everybody can pull off with class- dream pop. The culprit of this icy sound is Mauro Remiddi aka Porcelain Raft who managed to put all these layers of sounds and vocals by himself. He has already released 3 EPs but Tip of Your Tongue is his very first single that will be released this November under Acephale.

I've been listening to Porcelain Raft for quite some time now and Tip of Your Tongue (or Teeeep of your tongue as he sang it) is a good song to introduce him to a wider audience. Its hypnotic sound and catchy chorus can make a first time listener an instant fan.

If you want more of Porcelain Raft's music, you can visit his official site, MySpace or you can even download his tracks at Bandcamp.


Free Download Here 

Is Rajo Laurel the Next Charice?

Rajo Laurel debuted his singing career during the exhibition of his new collection for the RTW brand Wharton along with fellow designer KateTorralba in a music video singing Beatles classics. How about a spot in the next season of Celebrity Duets, yes? Why not?!

Is Rico Blanco the new Gerald Anderson?

After the news broke out that NU107 is closing down this year, I thought it's the saddest news I'd receive this week. But wait, there's more! I just found out that Rico Blanco is part of the newest teleserye of ABS-CBN entitled Immortal(sorta Pinoy version of Twilight and Vampire Diaries). Yes! The same Rico Blanco who was part of the legendary rock group Rivermaya and who penned those hits with ingenious lyrics.

Apocalypse is upon us!

I can still remember when Paco Arespacochaga of Introvoyz became the love team of Geneva Cruz and made some movies like Lab Ko Si Mam (sorta Pinoy version of Dangerous Minds). My girl cousins loved him so much and he made them super kilig. He was the 'It' actor rockstar...I guess.

Marc Abaya did the same thing. He left Sandwich and formed a new band called Kjwan. Then he became an MTV VJ and some radio dj stints. The next thing we knew, he's lip locking with Roxanne Guinoo in an afternoon drama special.Well, his mother is one of the pioneer directors in the Philippine cinema so I guess he's expected to be in the showbizness.

But seriously, Rico Blanco? I mean, I am not against it. The idea just makes me cringe. He's a rockstar and rockstars don't star in a Twilight rip-off. He is good in creating music and i think he's better that way. Can he act? I dunno. Will I watch him? Probably. I just hope he made the right decision. The last thing I expect him to do is to be the new love-team of Kim Chiu which is not impossible to happen.

NEW MUSIC: Get Some + Paris Blue by Lykke Li

It's out and it's free! Here's our first taste of Lykke Li's new pulsating single Get Some from her upcoming sophomore album due next year. Paris Blue comes as an exclusive track for the single and both songs are available for free download here. Paris Blue is such a haunting song which has that same effect as Possibility- her track from the Twilight: New Moon OST.


image by Marcus Palmqvist

BAND CRUSH: My Parasol

It's such a shame that I just found out about My Parasol's music recently but it's not too late to enjoy this duo's sweet sound. Thanks Ge and Kits for playing, I'm an instant fan! My Parasol is an LA-based duo that plays indie-pop infused with electronica. If Club8 and The Postal Service would do a collab, My Parasol is the end result. Mark Redito is Filipino and Susan Park is Korean and their love story is basically the foundation of this amazing act. Check out this track called Spacetalk which I am obssessively looping while writing this post. Spacetalk is such a sweet song that sends good vibes everytime you listen to it. It's one of those songs that you would want hear from someone to sing it to you and then eventually, you would both sing the chorus together and then... i don't know what's next but you get what I mean. Listen here...


There's also a fantastic remix by Diego Mapa which is a dancefloor anthem-worthy track.


They are coming up with an EP soon and I am sure it's filled with lovely tracks that will make you fall in love even though there's no one to fall in love with. You can download Spacetalk and other remixes of the song at Bandcamp.To learn more about My Parasol, if you follow their Twitter, Facebook and their official website.

P.S.: If you want to discover awesome tracks that you dont usually hear on the radio, go to The Strict Rules of Polite Society at Thank You For Today x Future, Cubao X during Wednesdays.

MUST WATCH: Boyfriend by Best Coast

I find it ironic how teen artists do adult stuff in their music videos while "mature" artists do otherwise. It could be one of the effects of global warming. But I am glad that Bethany Cosentino of Best Coast is not doing any Miley Cyrus stuff in their music video for Boyfriend, one of my favorite tracks from their awesome debut Crazy For You.

the main girl on the video looks like America Ferrera, no?

Hand Beat Me

I guess you remember this infectious tv ad of Coca Cola and even memorized the hand choreography and all...


But I dont think you can do the same with this video below.

It's amazing how Suzanne Cleary & Peter Harding imitate the Irish tap dancing using their hands. I think Im going to watch this video a million times just to memorize the choreo.

NAY OR YAY? Lost in the World by Bon Iver & Kanye West

When I heard about the news that Bon Iver will collaborate with Kanye West, my first reaction wast...there. Just the same as yours. Well I am not being snob or something. It's just that I couldn't imagine the sound when these two artists with opposing genre put together in a song. Monster (Kanye West feat. Jay-z, Bon Iver, etc.) was released and I could barely hear Bon Iver in the song. I didnt know that there's another track that from the two. Then came the Lost in the World song. To my surprise, i kind of liked it. Bon Iver didnt do much effort on this one. Kanye just used a sample of Bon Iver's song Woods from Blood Bank which is my favorite track from that EP. Good thing Kanye West didnt murder Bon Iver's song just like what Jason Derulo did to Imogen Heap's Hide & Seek.

Actually, Bon Iver's Woods is kind of like Imogen's Hide & Seek. It's intrumental with that robot sounding effect ala Cher in Believe. Here is Woods the original version.


And here's the leaked Lost in the World track with Kanye West.

NEW ALBUM: Effect Desired None by Imago

Imago is one of the local bands that I look up to. I've been a big fan since their Probably Not But Most Definitely days which inspired me to play violin (up until now, I still cant play any note BTW). 

I was fortunate to attend the presscon for their new album Effect Desired None earlier today. I was one of the most quiet on the round table coz well, not that I am bragging, I know a lot of things about Imago already (ehem). Going back to their new album Effect Desired None, it is less sugary than its predecessor Blush but it has that right amount of rock vibes from Take 2, their sophomore album. It's like a combination of both albums. Most of the songs are feel good and Aia's brilliant lyrics scream positivity.

I was excited to hear Yahoo coz I love watching Aia performing it with her infectious dance moves. But what really stood out in this album is Sa Ngalan Mo, for me at least. It's a sure hit if they release it as a single and everyone will relate to the song. Call me cheesy but I guess this song just came in the right timing. The lyrics are painfully beautiful. Aia knows how to make people cry and I don't blame her. Like I said before, i Hate describing songs just take a listen.

Sa Ngalan Mo


Effect Desired None is now available in your suking record bar under Universal Records. You might wanna check Imago's official Facebook fanpage for gig info.

MUST WATCH/LISTEN: Virgins by The Morning Benders

I have been obsessing myself with the new album of The Morning Benders lately and I wished they included this song in Big Echo. They performed this exclusive track called Virgins for La Blogotheque which will be part of a movie that will be streamed online on the said blog.

Watching Chris Chu perform this the first time made me teary-eyed. Sounds cheezy but it's the way he sings it. I dunno, The Morning Benders always make me cry with their songs. You can stream some of their song in their official website. Watch the video below...