MANILA, Philippines?Who the heck is Hammilan and why does the local music industry need someone like him?
Born and raised in Bicol province, Hammilan Pavoreal practically grew up with a mic in his face ? joining amateur singing contests, and later hooking up with neighborhood bands with an eye on hitting the big time.
In 1996 Hammilan was fronting the band Blah when its demo of all-original songs reached the desk of Warner Music Philippines? chief talent scout, who promptly signed up the group and produced its debut album, ?Lasngag.? A brilliant collection of songs about teenage joys and quirks, the album drew raves but, sadly, bombed commercially.
?Halo-Halo?
Four years later, Hammilan went solo and recorded a new batch of original material, ?Halo-Halo?? more quirky, very witty and musically engaging with a mixture of rock, metal, ska and reggae influences.
The artist, working without a manager, took steps to get the album released ? first independently, then with a major record label (Ivory) that repackaged it under the title ?May Nakakatawa Ba sa Akin?? This was interpreted as a hasty move which, again, failed to get the wide attention that Hammilan deserved. The album reportedly sold a respectable 15,000 copies, but the songs were never heard on mainstream radio.
He has since gotten married and gone into private business, but Hammilan couldn?t shake off his music. Early last month he broke the news that he had just recorded his second solo album, ?Diskarte.?
Still funded independently and showcasing his multiple talents as singer, songwriter, arranger, producer and performer (with help from a new backup band), ?Diskarte,? like its predecessor, should be appreciated for Hammilan?s unconventional ways.
This doesn?t mean his songs are far-out different, because the 10 tracks in ?Diskarte? are mostly about romantic love and its bittersweet permutations. However, the manner in which they are written demands a really close listen. The lyrics, for one, are not the run-of-the-mill type that even the country?s top composers sometimes resort to.
In ?Bilmoko,? for instance, Hammilan imagines himself to be a product (outrageously depicted as meat carcass in the CD sleeves) which his object of affection should buy for maximum value. He makes a pitch for his outstanding qualities, while remaining grounded with a touch of humor (?Compatible naman kahit pirated ako??).
In ?Hibangan,? he gets desperate, feeling that the time he?s spend waiting for love is all in vain. But the despair is expressed by wittily running through a list of pop hits and juxtaposing them with his own down-and-out sentiments: ?Lagi na lang it might be you/Wala namang nangyayari?/Lagi na lang pa?no ang puso ko/Wala namang makikialam?/Lagi na lang ngayon at kailan man/Wala namang mag-aabang??
Vivid imagery
The other tracks reveal Hammilan?s gift for clever turns of phrase and vivid imagery that Pinoys can easily relate to. In the ballad ?Minsan,? he?s a devoted suitor who doesn?t mind being inconvenienced (?Walang paki kung ako'y antok at ubusin ng lamok?"). But the thought of rejection pushes him to the edge: ?Pagkatapos ng awiting ito, may sayad na ako?? Yet nothing prepares us for the last few lines of a heartbreaking situation: ?Kung iiwan mo?y may pakiusap ako/Dalawin mo naman/Hanggang tumandang binata dahil sa 'yo.?
There?s a sense of urgency when Hammilan sings. It?s like he?s constantly on the verge of a breakdown, or battling imaginary demons. Does this imply a manic-depressive streak? The way he performs suggests so; he?s so unpredictable, such a livewire, running around, jumping atop tables, climbing up beams and virtually setting the house on fire with his energy and impassioned vocals.
No put-on
It?s not a put-on; that?s what makes it exciting.
But back to the album: its biggest surprise is that Hammilan also sings well in English. Four such tracks (?Reflection,? ?Talk,? ?In Memory,? ?Friend?), all rendered in a contemplative mood, allow us to see Hammilan in an entirely new light ? completely the opposite of his raging rocker persona. These emotionally affecting songs likewise connect on an intelligent level? never mind if, at times, the lyrics show linguistic slips: ?Love is a rain? (from ?Reflection?); ?I?ve watched your face lost its grace? (from ?In Memory?).
Happily, ?Gandang Kupas? and ?Friend,? which originally appeared in the ?Lasngag? and ?Halo-Halo? albums, are also in ?Diskarte? ? re-recorded and sounding new, while retaining the basic hooks which, we presume, are intended for the first-time listener to be acquainted with Hammilan?s earlier works.
Simply put, "Diskarte" is one pop-rock album that will interest people who have stopped buying CDs because they?re not sure they?ll like everything.
We still think ?Halo-Halo? was better, although it seems to have been misinterpreted as a novelty record. ?Diskarte? illustrates that it takes time to fully absorb a new album that doesn?t rely on just a couple of instant hits.
The industry should be celebrating; here is one artist who can truly be called different.
