Shifting musical gears

Many think Sponge Cola’s self-titled album at this time of the group’s career is too late, given the trend that an upcoming band normally uses its name for the debut album.

As you have suspected, Sponge Cola (composed of lead vocalist and guitarist Yael Yuzon, guitarist Armo Armovit, bassist Gosh Dilay and drummer Chris Cantada) has a personal reason why the band seems to go backward. But rest assured its music goes upward and it is better when Sponge Cola started a few years ago.

“It’s a reaffirmation of our music (and our intention of why we are doing it),” says Yael of the new album. “It represents how the band has come full circle (after two albums and gracing the local music scene for years). The album is a fresh start for everyone that there’s something else we can go to and explore from where we have started off.”

Sponge Cola, the album, indeed commences a new phase in the band’s career and musicality. That’s why Yael, Armo, Gosh and Chris used new instruments (synths and drumloops) for Sponge Cola to come up with unadulterated sounds.

Yael shares the experimentation just came out naturally from the band members, not thinking of what should be or shouldn’t be done. There was no forcing one’s self to a certain way. They just heeded to their creative juices. Voila! Sponge Cola finished its most personal recording outing that is “naturally cohesive and straightforward,” as the members put it.

Though I’m no music fan, I can tell the Sponge Cola “make-over” sound is different from what it used to perform gig after gig.

Enjoy the distinct and progressive music of Sponge Cola by listening to Puso, Step Back, All The Time, Meteor Shower, ‘Di Na Mababawi, Makapiling Ka, Wala Kang Katulad and Keep The Fire Burning. The last ditty fittingly describes the reason why Sponge Cola has shifted its musical gears. Yes, it’s one way to keep the music playing in their hearts.

But the pleasant melodies and true-to-heart lyrics remain intact.

Yael says he tried to give songs a relaxed tone to make them sound more personal and to make the storytelling compelling.

With the recent win of Ateneo Blue Eagles over La Salle Green Archers, Yael, a true-blue Atenean couldn’t help but sing Puso. It is in fact the theme for the just-concluded UAAP season. Yael composed the ditty after the Archers defeated his school’s basketball team last year. Whether your color is blue, green or maroon, you can still relate to the song. It’s about the positive way of looking at life’s trials and how to emerge a winner.

Yael sings Puso no longer with a heavy heart, but with a smile.

The new sound of Sponge Cola is also confronted with change in the band’s line-up. Chris just quit for health reason. That makes Sponge Cola now a trio. For its fans, Chris left the band with a heartfelt song In Another Life.

Other songs in the album are Ayt and GKT (Gising, Kain, Tulog) plus the resounded and rearranged A Tear and Saturn.

With the band’s new sound and musings on life, it’s clear that Sponge Cola is here not to make any Palabas (its debut album) nor to take another Transit in its career, but to churn out songs that speak of what it is all about: A pop, emo, rock, alternative band.