Pop go the praise songs

MANILA, Philippines - The commonly recognized block arguably keeping praise songs from achieving mainstream acceptance is the tendency to sound predictable and less-hip. No thanks to preachy lyrics, conventional melody runs and hackneyed arrangements.

Such dilemma is what local record label Vicor Music found solved upon hearing the music of Where’s The Sheep, a duo that sings and writes praise songs in easy-listening pop-style. Its executives immediately offered a recording contract to the artists and the result is the label’s first release of such kind.

Where’s The Sheep?, composed of singer Mike Shimamoto and lead guitarist Hero Mauricio, now has to their credit a 12-track collection of inspirational numbers led by Buksan, a song they penned and picked as carrier single. The song alone may not define their musicality, yet this romantic feel-good pop is too good to overlook as fit for today’s pop radio airplay format.

Go over the whole album and you can get the heart of the matter as far as the group’s identity is concerned. It begins with its interpretation of Casting Crown’s piece Who Am I which carries the touching punchline I’m Yours. Third on the list is I Am Home, the first composition in the album which instantly establishes Mike and Hero as singer-songwriters.

Then midway through the CD, listeners are treated with one of the most emphatic cover versions of Switchfoot’s Only Hope to date, with its heartfelt vocals sweeping through the waves of emotions captured both by the tune and words. Two more recordings provide enlightening impact: Its rendition of the Moy Ortiz-Edith Gallardo collaboration titled I See You Lord, and the already-familiar song God Gave Me You.

Where’s The Sheep? practically equates to the best-sounding, contemporary praise and worship music out in the local market today,” boasts Vicor Music people who are aware that their new act’s success might just open doors for other artists embracing the genre.

Apart from Mike and Hero’s looks which can pass them off as K-pop stars, their music offers some headway easily saleable to people, even to those not that involved with church activities and communities. That they’re able to consistently provide the requirements of universality in classy sonic mood speaks of their capacity to send positive messages without being musically — to use that word associated to sellout love songs — cheesy.

Music insiders have described the craftsmanship of Where’s The Ship? as “authentic, accessible and youthful.” As one critic implied, “Vicor Music couldn’t have picked the perfect artist to serve as flagship act for the praise-worship genre that may just be the next ‘in’ thing for Filipino musicians.”

The self-titled album also contains minus ones of I Am Home and Buksan, emphasizing the label’s trust on the duo’s songwriting ability.