Band’s puzzling name decoded

MANILA, Philippines - The latest band act in Universal Records growing roster of talents seems to confuse audiences not with its brand of music, but by its very name. The big question mark appears when one realizes that a four-piece is actually named Six Part Invention.

Male vocalist, guitarist and obvious band leader Rey Cantong reveals the reason behind the idea: “We produced music out of six musical elements; that’s the four of us and our sequencer which does other elements we can no longer accommodate especially when playing live. For us, what it does equal to two extra elements. So four plus two is six.”

More than explaining it verbally, the band musically demonstrated its own equation during its recent press launch at its present label’s office along Quezon Ave. Six Part Invention used to be with Dyna, then Alpha Records, before inking a record deal with its “dream label.”

Established for its originals, including the now familiar teleserye theme Falling In Love, Six Part Invention gave in to label advice to do covers of ’90s soft pop-rock classics. The result is a 10-track line-up of all-English tunes poised to reach Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.

“We are so thankful the album will be available in other territories in Southeast Asia,” pointed out Rey, also the band’s prolific tunesmith.

The album, wittily titled Stripped and Covered, already boasts the carrier single Two Steps Behind (made famous by Def Leppard) that went on top of mymusicstore for several weeks. Follow-up single is The Flame (Cheap Trick), which like most of the CD tracks, is carried by the likeably emotive vocal interpretation.

Other notable renditions in the album are Honestly (Harem Scarem), When I See You Smile (Bad English), You’re All I Need (White Lion) and yes, Patience (Guns N’ Roses).

Rey is supported in the band by his wife Kaye Malana-Cantong (vocalist), younger brother Tag (drummer) and Andy dela Cruz (bassist).