FEATURED BANDS:
BAMBOO / BARBIE'S CRADLE / IMAGO / KITCHIE NADAL / KJWAN / MAYONNAISE / PAROKYA NI EDGAR / RIVERMAYA / SPONGE COLA / SUGAR FREE

Imago

Aya de Leon (vocals/guitars), Tim (guitars), Myrene Academia (bass), & Zach (drums)

[source:manilatimes.net]

Imago, Take 2 (Guilty Pleasure). Imago scored a record deal with a major label on the same year they started playing gigs actively. Along with erstwhile violinist Michelle Pritchard and producer Bob Aves, Imago drew rave reviews for Probably Not But Most Definitely. Head-scratching comparisons to The Corrs aside, the album drew good reviews. Imago seemed to bridge the gap between Lolita and Barbie with music that framed Asia’s powerful vocals and introspective lyrics.

The album, however, fell victim to Pinoy rock’s commercial slump, a period where even the famed Eraserheads did poorly. Imago’s debut album failed to meet their record label’s (unreasonable) commercial expectations; the record label dealt with them severely. Imago then sought clearance and went indie. With Take 2, they proved there’s space for independently produced music in the mainstream.

Since their debut album, Imago evolved with years of experience and influences from foreign and local artists. Imago’s sound underwent a paradigm shift with the change of production went from Bob Aves to the Varispeed Brothers (Raimund Marasigan, Romel “Sancho” Sanchez, Buddy Zabala and Tracks-master Angee Rozul). Imago’s live renditions of “Rainsong” became more upbeat after the remix. A change in bandmates also reflects in their sound; bassist Arvin Gatmaitan left to pursue prog-rock passions and in came Myrene Academia of Not Radio/Sandwich fame.

Imago’s new sound is more modern and dynamic, not to mention electric. But longtime fans need not fret because Imago maneuvers a track-by-track transition, from “Freefall” and “Phoenix” to what they sound now (“Bihag,” Taning,” “Anino,” the party-rap flavored “Gratitude”) to hints where their sound might be headed (the oh-so-fresh remixes). It’s everybody’s guess where that may lead to, but Take 2 indicates it will still carry the same emotional weight and poignancy.