Pymyth Prahn is the one and only solo album released commercially by my former band Half Life Half Death, in 1995 on Neo / Viva Records. It was the result of our relatively long and almost jaded struggle to make a splash in the Alternative music ocean.
Birth
Half Life Half Death officially formed in 1988, first members included Joel Reyes (bass), me, aLfie vera mella (vocals), Rain Paggao (guitars), Jonathan Mejino (drums), and Edmund Villafuerte (keyboards). Carol Pobre (female vocals) and Pet de Jesus (rhythm guitars) joined soon after. Other band names we contemplated on using included Fancy Weredoes, The Ashtrays, Strikingly Out of the Ordinary, and plain Half Life.
[We used to practice in Rain's bedroom at their house in Pasay City; very '80s--even the posters on the wall--Rocky, Phoebe, and Ralph.]
Late '80s
Our very first gig took place in March 1988, at the birthday party of my auntie Eliza P. Aranzamendez, held at Better Living Subdivision in Bicutan, Paranaque, Metro Manila, Philippines. We played stuff from Modern English, X-mal Deutschland, The Dead Milkmen, Ramones, The Adventures, A Flock of Seagulls, WUDS, The Cure, and The Clash.
The first public gig was at a concert dubbed as Seed of Paranoia, held in September 1988 at Makati Sports Club. We performed alongside bands that included Violent Playground, Era of Enigma, Major Minor, Oracle of Gamin, Private Image, and Dead Reckoning. We played three songs: our original version of Sharon Cuneta's "High School (Life)," The Dead Milkmen's "The Beach Song," and Third World Chaos's "We Are the One."
[Rock Against Drugs at PUP in February 1989]
Soon thereafter, that successful first gig landed us a special place in the concert series known as The Duke of Charlez's Rock Against Drugs (1988-1991), which took us to gigs at Polytechnic University of the Philippines, San Beda College, University of Santo Tomas, and to a very memorable gig called The Creepy Night held at Ali Mall Skatetown in Cubao, Quezon City; and which gave us the chance to perform and rub shoulders with many of the pioneering bands in the Philippine Alternative Rock scene circa '80s--like Mere Mercy, Dean's December, Khumb Mela Band, Introvoys, Silos, WUDS, Philippine Violators, Ardourn Delirium, Athena's Curse, and The Dawn.
Twisted Red Cross
In 1989 we began recording several compositions with the intent of submitting these to the independent record label Twisted Red Cross owned by Tommy Tanchangco. Unfortunately, we were late. According to TRC, after listening to our demoes, they would have loved to sign us and release our album, but then they were folding shop already. We could have been TRC's final release. Funny thing is, I still have a copies of those demoes which we recorded live using a karaoke machine--very rough recordings but still listenable if only to take a peek at the humble beginnings of our band.
Band Scene
In the ensuing years, we content ourselves with performing at various concerts and parties--times when we had to literally carry our instruments aboard tricycles, pedicabs, taxicabs, jeepneys, and buses just to be at the concert venues. Some band members had left for various reasons--Joel Reyes, Jonathan Mejino, Edmund Villafuerte, Carol Pobre. New members joined in--Ramil Aznar (bass), Rozylyn Torres (female vocals), Bimbo Ballesteros (drums), Ambet Taylo (keyboards and violins), Johnny Miranda (drums).
The next chapter of our journey brought us to the clubs. With the help of some friends and contacts in the music scene, we got to perform regularly at the original Club Dredd - Timog Ave., in Quezon City, and at Mayric's in Sampaloc, Manila.
[First gig at Club Dredd Timog, April 1991]
[Second gig at Club Dredd Timog, around June 1991]
Also we got to join the Yamaha Band Explosion '91, performing alongside fellow contestants Anno Domini, Mutiny in Manila, Mga Anak ng Tupa, and The Flies, and guests Introvoys, Francis M, and AMO Band. We didn't win, but we earned the loudest applause from the crowd and words of appreciation and admiration from Francis Magalona and Paco Arespacochaga.
[Photo shoots for the '91 Yamaha Band Explosion, August 11, 1991]
In 1992, because of many factors that included schooling (some members were in high school or in College at the time), professional occupations, musical differences, and jadedness, the band fell apart. However, before we disbanded we were able to record two compositions--"We Are the Saints" and "A Place"--which received regular airplay at DM 95.5. Sadly, no one among us was able to keep a copy of these recordings.
Mid-'90s
After being disbanded for a year and so, I with members Rain and Ramil started jamming again until we decided to form a trio we named Kimberly Moans. A series of fun and successful private gigs and parties and the return of Pet and Bimbo prompted us to revert to being Half Life Half Death. Refreshed and reactivated, especially that the local alternative music scene was flourishing--courtesy of the rise into commerciality of Eraserheads--we embarked on playing as many gigs as we could manage to get ourselves included.
People who once admired us in the '80s did not forget us! Our gigs were successful. A new radio station emerged, and started supporting and giving airplay to independent local bands. We got inspired.
[On the cover of Rock & Rhythm Music Magazine]
The next logical step was, to record new compositions. In 1994 we headed to Greenhills Sound Studio and recorded three songs with the intent to submit these to LA 105: "Alimango," "Butterflies," and "A Feast in Pastel Castle." After about a month the songs were played onair. After a few months "Alimango" landed on the Top Ten list. Ed Formoso contacted us and offered us a recording contract. We jumped on and grabbed the opportunity. Thus, we recorded "Kapit-Tuko" for A Dozen Alternatives (1994, Iba Music / Viva Records), "Sa Paskong Darating" for Christmas on the Rocks (1994, Iba Music / Viva Records), and "High School (Life)" for Mga Himig Natin Vol. 2 (1995, Vicor Records), and "Nosi Ba Lasi?" for the soundtrack of the movie Okey si Ma'am, starring Paco Arespacochaga and Geneva Cruz (1995, Viva Records).
To legitimize our being a band, we began scouting for a record label which would be willing to sign us up and release our album.
Jett Pangan of The Dawn, who was a label manager at Viva Records at the time sent us feelers. He told us that when he saw us on TV, he knew right away that we were New Wave, and that he had to have us under the stables of Viva.
[Channel 9's Chibugan Na]
[Channel 2's A.S.A.P.]
[Channel 7's GMA Supershow]
Thus borne, Pymyth Prahn. Meaning of this album title? Nothing. Pet and I just wanted to coin a name synonymous to Middle-earth, Neverneverland, Avalon, etc. So out of the blue we thought of it. Actually, it would have been Pymythy Prahndeilfen, but we opted to shorten it for easier recall.
Only Album
We were admittedly excited and enthusiastic, especially that we got to enter a recording studio this time under the wings of a proper recording label, after many years of struggle. We spent about four months in producing the album. I remember having to spend countless days and nights just to make sure that every detail and effect was rendered the way we liked it.
Here are some pictures taken during the recording sessions for the compilation albums in which we were included, prior to Pymyth Prahn.
What was extra special with this album was that we got to get former bandmates and many named musicians to guest in particular songs.
Karen Mariano of The Wailing Pixies in "Alimango" and "We Are the Saints"
Carol Pobre in "Butterflies" and "Unfated Love"
Camille Oro and Apat Subido of Bad Days for Mary in "Kapalarang Kuwago"
Rozylyn Torres in "If All Sleep Tonight" and "Radio Madness"
Lani Toquero of Tribal Fish in "Sarimanok"
Zeejay Jacob of Kelt's Cross in "Nosi Ba Lasi?"
Francis Reyes (also a record coproducer) in "Aligue"
Edmund Villafuerte in "Unfated Love"
Jett Pangan of The Dawn in "Engkanto"
Jonathan Mejino in "Cariñosa"
Guidong Reyes of Emmanuel in "A Feast in Pastel Castle," "We Are the Saints," and "Radio Madness"
Rommel Sanchez of Aftermath in "Nosi Ba Lasi?"
George Imbecille of G.I. & the Idiots and Jay Dimalanta of Dead Ends in "Radio Madness"
...and a lot of friends in "A Feast in Pastel Castle."
Here are some photos taken during the album launching held at Mayric's on July 31, 1996. Our guest bands were Bad Days for Mary (unfortunately, I was unable to save any pictures of them) and The Dawn, who reformed just for this gig. Pitching in on bass for The Dawn was Perf de Castro. Several musician friends were there in support, like members of Alamid, Sugar Hiccup, Dominion, LVNA, and Dream Kitchen.
I included in this posting the versions of songs that we recorded and submitted in 1993 for airplay on LA 105 (Sessions for LA 105) and the rips from a copy of the demo cassette tape that we submitted in 1989 to Twisted Red Cross.
The "Session songs" are, of course, clear and well presentable since that we recorded these at a recording studio, Greenhills Sounds Studio. The demo songs are just that, mere demoes, recorded live in 1989 at the bedroom of bassist Ramil Aznar with some overdubs using a karaoke machine. Very rough indeed, yet listenable, just to have a peek at the early forms of some of our songs. Among these, only a few songs made it to Pymyth Prahn. I didn't include demo #10, "Always Dream of You," because it was corrupted.
Where Are We Now?
The three key members of Half Life Half Death are Rain Paggao, Ramil Aznar, and me. Currently, despite each having his respective professional job now--Rain as a district attorney in Makati City, Philippines, Ramil Aznar as a video director in the Philippines, and I--a health care aide at a hospital and a columnist for a newspaper here in Canada--we still manage to keep our passion for music on the sides.
Rain Paggao, aside from his music project with his brother, The Rain, also plays the guitars for Dead Pop Stars.
Ramil Aznaris the current frontman (vocalist/guitarist) of Dream Kitchen. With him in the band at this particular gig were Aldrin Cardona, Gilbert Tiongson, and Gremar Bernil all of whom became members of Half Life Half Death during the band's last days in 2003.
And myself, aLfie vera mella, the frontman (vocalist and keyboardist) of haLf man haLf eLf and Half Endangered Species.
[I miss the original, my orange plastic toy guitar, which I left in the Philippines]
Pet de Jesus migrated to Paris, France, in 1999, and have lived there since, working at the United Nations' Paris headquarters, involved with the ozone protection. He regularly visits the Philippines and hook up with friends.
Jonathan Mejino immigrated to Washington, USA, in 1992, and have lived there since. He was on a vacation in the Philippines in 1995, during the time we were recording Pymyth Prahn, so he got to perform the drum tracks for the song "Cariñosa." He visited me twice in British Columbia, in 2003 and in 2004 when I was still living there.
Edmund Villafuerte and his family have recently immigrated to the US, both he and his wife are working now as nurses. We talk on the phone occasionally.
Carol Pobre, who was the first runnerup in the 1995 Binibining Pilipinas, has long been working in the administrative department of Shell Pilipinas. We exchange e-mails and missives once in a while.
Joel Reyes works at a ship of the Prince of Dubai, and gets to visit his family in the Philippines every several months. We exchange e-mails once in a while.
Rozylyn Torres, who was one of the backup vocalists in The Dawn's Live album, a member of (Tres) Mariya (the precursor of Mariya's Mistress) with Cool Carla and Lenie Llapitan, a member of Prettier than Pink, has long been in a band named Red Rose with musicians who include Maegan Aguilar. The last time we corresponded via e-mail was a few years ago.
Ambet Taylo works as a violinist at a ship; gets to visit regularly his family in the Philippines. We got to say hello to each other via e-mail about a year ago.
Bimbo Ballesteros and his nurse wife and their kids are now living in California, USA. He calls me on the phone occasionally. He still plays the drums.
Johnny Miranda, from whom I haven't heard since the late '90s, I heard, was in the Philippines.
Aldrin Cardona, a sportswriter/editor for a Philippine newspaper, is currently the guitarist of Dream Kitchen. We correspond to each other once in a while via the newwave101 yahoogroup.
Gilbert Tiongson, who works at Manila City Hall, is the drummer of Dream Kitchen. We send e-mails to each other once in a while.
Gremar Bernil, a professional musician, is currently abroad in Southeast Asia with his band. He recently visited the Philippines and was able to join Dream Kitchen in a few gigs. He e-mails me every time there's a chance.
I Would To Thank Alfie Vera Mella (Half Man Half Elf ) for sharing this article please visit his personal account at http://elfideas.multiply.com/
Thank you very much really appreciated what you doin! thanks ...
DOWNLOAD
