This post was inspired by pseudo-80s-style music videos (by the likes of Lady Gaga and Kelly Rowland) and my quick-ish recovery from this season’s influenza. I have been a fan of dance music since I can remember and (spilling my guts here) admit to dancing in the streets to a record playing off a neighbor’s hi-fi when I was a kid.

In the past years I have been making new and revisiting old dance compositions for both names are for tombstones and Watari’s Machine projects. The progression to a club-friendly sound was given a warm reception by my music peers and friends. I also notice people come to watch my sets to see if I will dance. (Do “The Moves” as they call it.)

Fresh off the grill, and if you have been following my social network posts about my dance music compositions, I managed to do a final instrumental draft of a tune titled “The Wait.” It is new music fitted with a decade-or-so-old poem for lyrics.

Put on your dancing shoes, friends!

Some time last week, while idling, I realized that the Watari’s Machine project is well on its fifth year. Unfortunately, and as it goes with me, I do not remember when it started exactly. But vaguely I remember it being used the first time around 2005 with Boy Ramos either at Zen in Glorietta or the original 6 Underground in Legazpi Village via Pogz Paz/Glenn Sibal or Chox/Electronica Manila.

Watari’s Machine now involves more people and the lineup rotates depending on member availability with myself as the only constant member. I know it kinda sucks that it all boils down to just Nono and His Self-centered Universe. The biggest challenge I have with this project is that it should center on 80s synthpop & new wave with splashes of disco/dance/techno here and there. The expanded lineup now includes Vener Valerio, Erwin Zamora and Arwin Tolentino. The first and the last have been jam buddies/band mates since college times in the pseudo band Wash Tub Fill. I have also asked two more people from Filter Filter who both play synths if they’re interested to eventually join the project.

I feel this should be celebrated being some kind of milestone at five years. NAFT didn’t enjoy regular anniv gigs in its eight years as a performing project. I just write in my journals and announce in groups every now and then about it. I also know WM is not exactly an institution but there is the nagging thought that if you do not gig nor release work for some time, your projects would be forgotten and will not reach new people.

So an event will be in the works and should materialize in a few months. I am currently conceptualizing and it will be another Synthicide event. I also have to work on their corresponding sites: www.watarismachine.com and www.synthicide.com.

There’s much to be done.

(Today is also the 27th death anniversary of Ninoy Aquino and the 15th anniversary of Back to the Edge.)

I may have subconsciously missed posting an entry for July. Things looked good at the start but ended up wrong  both on the personal and professional level. The frustration lead me to devote more of my time trying to meet new people and visiting the gym. I’ll try to tie back loose ends this weekend and hope things shape up better this month.

As you recall I was busy producing tracks last month and it spilled over as expected. I managed to rework a song I wrote in 1998 (but only arranged and performed in 2009) giving it an almost classical arrangement. Actually it’s like Dead Can Dance overdosed with Bach’s and/or Handel’s choir. Please listen to the track and tell me what you think.

Just sharing again. I find this track infectious even though it’s a lot of nonsense. Haha.

I made use of an old piece of composition for an imaginary soundtrack (“imaginary” since it was not used in the film I wrote it for). The choir, timpani and string arrangement is ominous (if not bombastic) and goes quite well with the sick bass and synth line.

Anyway, I attribute the work to names are for tombstones because it summons the the dark side of the force.

Today is Father’s Day but that’s not exactly what I am writing about.

I am currently wracking my brain for ideas since I was commissioned to produce music and I am pressed for time. I am just taking a needed break because I think I reached my quota for the day. I also fell in love with this particular track among those that I have (somewhat) finished.

It’s generically titled “Rock 2″ because if you’re composing a lot in a short span of time, you don’t exactly have the luxury to think of a smart title. It’s minimal electro (in the synth pop vein) with hints of Miss Kimberly’s My Boyfriend Is A Communist.

Please listen to song below and tell me what you think.

At 3:45AM I will be officially a year older. And in 365 days I will be officially middle age. (I also share my birthday with Dino my younger brother and my cousin Jonathan.)

I’ve been thinking about my last year in my 30s and I hope it will be an exciting one. There are a lot of things I want to do before the Big 4 next year and I hope to achieve at least half of what I plan to do. So I started with simple things like a new hairstyle and (soon) going back to the gym.

After maybe a decade of being a shaved head, I decided to grow some of my hair back. I feel it’s become too common or too fashionable to be a “skinhead” now. During my early college days I sported an army haircut and sometimes a “modified” flat top that I thought looked cool. So I am trying that look again. Just refer to the mostly goofy phone pics above and tell me what you think. I also included photos of 2 of my cats.

I also plan to fill this next year with a lot of music both for names are for tombstones and Watari’s Machine. And hopefully I get to travel somewhere again after a long time. My money just magically disappears (sarcastic). Don’t ask how.

Anyways, please help make my 39th year interesting.

This track is about 5 years old and was a personal challenge to try and imitate the programming of one of my favorite tracks from New Order off their excellent album Technique.

Originally attributed to the project names are for tombstones (first performed at Fete De La Musique) it was determined it fits Watari’s Machine better for its mix of dance and new wave.

Please listen to the (incomplete) instrumental track below. It lacks certain elements like piano and a couple of synth and guitar solos. However, I believe it’s a decent version nevertheless.

This is another one of those random covers that I do to pass boredom or if I needed a creative diversion when not motivated to do web work.

Although I didn’t know Fad Gadget that well back in the 80s, I am happy that I got to know him better at the turn of the century. Any electronic music fan, especially those who like the edgier stuff from last century, should know him.

This is my attempt at a cover of his song “For Whom the Bells Toll” adjusted for the industrial-like sound of my project Names Are For Tombstones. Please listen to the instrumental track below.

I spent most part of the day programming this tune for the project Watari’s Machine. It’s my tribute to one of my favorite electronic groups. This tune is not complete because it lacks the adlib/bridge part til the last chorus. I needed to work so I stopped fiddling with it.

I will visit this again some other time and will probably perform it live with the rest of the boys in WM in a future gig. I hope you like it although I am not very happy with the bass line programming.

Listen to the track below.

I got the book! Will update you all soon.