Working for OdysseyLive.Net is quite a fulfilling job! Since I’ve been here, I’ve been on the front lines of some of the most exciting times in local music and have been witness to some experiences so grand its hard to talk about even though the trip remains clear in my memory. I can name a whole lot of concerts and press cons I’ve been to wherein I was amongst the most elite of the Filipino Music Scene and i've as well been to some of the exciting behind the scenes plannings of these events and I have to say that I consider myself truly lucky to have been able to have been part of these shows/launches etc.
Today, I relish the fact to have been invited to be at one of the final recordings of the much awaited 5th Urbandub album “The Apparition”. Invited by MCA Music to be the only website (media for that matter) there, I immediately confirmed my presence and made arrangements to go together with Gabby Alipe (who happens to be my housemate).
We’d woken up late from having been out the night before at a Blue Jean Junkies gig at Capones Bistro and slowly put ourselves together in order for an entire day at Tracks Studio in Pasig City. I’d already heard all the songs that will be appearing on the album, as well as most of the fillers which will likewise be included but was excited to hear the finished products of their hard work as well as to see what the band is like when working in the studio! Upon arriving we said our hello’s and got settled right away as John Dinopol was already carrying his guitar and laying in a few guitar overdubs for one of the songs. Lalay Lim was playing bass in the waiting area and looked as if she was rehearsing some parts although did not lay in any bass lines on that day. Janjan Mendoza, ever the silent guy was actually done with all his drum parts already and was there enjoying the recording process and offering his opinion on certain changes the band was deciding on. Gabby soon after picked up his guitar and laid in a number of guitar overdubs as well!
I assume that many of their recording sessions at Tracks were as I saw it. No bullshit, no dilly dallying, no small talk for the sake of conversation, and definitely no nonsense! I have my own personal passed experiences of being in recording studios and I can vouch for Urbandub, these guys are professionals who know what they’re doing in the studio and simply get it done! Hunger may strike, fatigue may set in, the room can get too cold, but whatever it is, they are there doing what needs to get done and do it in true artistic glory.
All in all we spent a good 12 hours there, laying in guitar parts, deciding which guitar riffs would suit a certain song better, laying in a whole bunch of backing vocals and melodies, and I even got to scream on one of the songs together with Gabby, John, Lalay, and Ralf (Urbandub’s Road Manager) while Janjan videotaped us and Sir Angie recorded us. I doubt that you’ll hear my voice but im just glad to have somehow been included on the album.
The Apparition is scheduled to be launched on Friday the 13th of November. Today is November 4 and yesterday Gabby came home celebrating the end of the recordings. There was talk and wonder on whether the launch would be postponed what with having to mix and master all the tracks plus lay in all the fillers and I wonder how that is coming along but I am simply excited for this album.
As I said earlier, I’ve heard all the tracks and most of the fillers and I think its going to be a great album! For one thing, it’s a more mature album. The topics in The Apparition deal with topics such as politics and family and liberty! The writing alone was done in the mountains of
The band has also shared with me that they really did enjoy the Tracks Studio recording process because unlike their previous albums, this one was not entirely rushed! They had their time to sit and make it happen as opposed to forcing it out of themselves. They also had the freedom to use a whole bunch of equipment such as 3 different drum kits, a whole slew of amplifiers both for the guitars and for the bass, and Johns house for creating all the fillers which will make this Urbandub’s first gapless playback album as all the songs are now connected to each other. I also know that the artwork that will go with The Apparition is a far cry from anything Urbandub has ever done before! I don’t want to spoil the surprise but please be sure to get yourselves a copy of the original album as I guarantee you, you will want the sleeve and not some stupid pirated copy!
Congratulations to Urbandub! You guys have been great friends of mine since the release of Embrace and im happy to see all of you progressing so finely and making the talent in each of you shine brighter and brighter! You are an inspiration to me in so many ways and I thank my blessings for being part of your lives as well!
The Apparition: A supernatural appearance of a person or thing; a specter of phantom.
Standby on www.odysseylive.net as we announce the official launch of this much awaited album!!!
Photos from this recording session can be found here:
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