Kenyo goes Maharlika

Kenyo music is actually lighter than what usually comes from a Pinoy rock band. But these guys create more noise as far as gossip columns exposure is concerned. No other group, and that includes those whose members like to date celebrity females, is as talked about or as controversial as Kenyo.

Why so? Because at one time Kenyo was part of Orange and Lemons (ONL) and the band had huge hits. Pinoy Ako, Abot Kamay, Hanggang Kailan (Umuwi Ka Na Baby), Heaven Knows, Yakap Sa Dilim and others. But then ONL lead guys Mcoy Fundales and Clem Castro had a falling out over what they said were creative differences four years ago.

It was at that time that curiosity about them began. Will they get together again? No chance of that. Will there ever be an Orange and Lemons reunion? Maybe but not in the near future. Think 10 or 20 years perhaps. Are Mcoy and Clem on speaking terms? A hi and a nod at most when they come within eye contact distance. The rivalry intensified even more when Mcoy and Clem both formed new bands.

Mcoy with other ONL members JM del Mundo on bass guitars and vocals and Ace del Mundo, guitars and vocals, formed a new group named Kenyo with new recruits Cleng Ocampo on guitars and Ariz Villalon on drums and percussions. Kenyo is so named because these guys come from Bulacan which make them Bulakeños. They released Radiosurfing, an album of covers early last year. A few months later, Clem introduced his own band, Camerawalls with the CD Pocket Guide to the Other World. And they once more faced the same questions.

A year later and there is still no let up. Kenyo recently released a new album titled Maharlika and once again there were those same questions from the media. Mcoy gave the same answers. Which is just as well. As Paul McCartney, who had first-hand experience of a much awaited reunion that never was, was quoted as saying in an interview, “It is best never to reunite.” I say amen to that, because magic never happens the same way twice.

Fans of ONL should now forget the reunion and move on to the music of Kenyo as heard in the all-new, all-original Maharlika. The CD title and songs like Filipina, Tadhana, Kalayaan and Alay Ng Alaala (Theme from The Forgotten War) reminded me of the Martial Law years. But those are just what they really are, titles. There is nothing Imeldific or revolutionary about the contents.

In fact, Maharlika is almost all light pop, very easy on the ears. Romantic even. It shows a lovelorn Kenyo as they sing with a la kundiman lyrics like “kasalanan bang maglambingan” in Simulan Na Natin or “Sino bang mapagbiro, tadhana ba o tayo?” in Tadhana or “langit ang buhay kung ika’y mapasaakin” in Kalayaan and naively of wishes that mothers say turn into falling stars in Wish On A Star. 

That is except for one cut. Kenyo lets lose with lots of gibes, recriminations, venom and a whole galore of other negative stuff in the only loud rocker in the collection, Learn To Swallow. “Liar! Everyone can tell/ Yes sir! You’re a user/ Mister! Get a lawyer/ Yes sir! You’re a loser!”

The angry diatribe detracts from the sweet mood of the CD but Kenyo, particularly Mcoy who composed most of the songs, must have their reasons for including Learn To Swallow. Still, it would have been nicer if they had instead just stayed with the sentiments expressed in the single Hanggang Sa Muli. “Sa iyong pag-alis/ ika’y ihahatid/ hanggang sa muli/ sa iyong pag-uwi.”

Other Pinoy bands in the forefront these days are Hale with its new single Bahay Kubo; Chicosci with Diamond Shotgun from the CD Fly Black Hearts, which was released only last week; Pedicab with Simulan Mo Na from the amusing Shinji Ilabas Mo Na Ang Helicopter album; Silent Sanctuary with Hiling; Itchyworms with Misis Fely Nimfa Ang Pangalan; 6Cyclemind with Kasalanan featuring Gloc-9; Kamikazee with Hanggang Tingin from Long Time Noisy; The Dawn with Hatak from Sound The Alarm, the iconic band’s first album in four years; and Duster with Gucci Gang.