Artist : The CompanY
Album : Group Hug
Released Date : December 13, 2008
Label : Viva Records

Like good wine, some things do get better with age. This quote applies perfectly to The CompanY, “The Philippines’ Premiere Vocal Ensemble ” a senior vocal harmony group, who has been coloring the music scene in Philippines for almost 25 years. This Philippines’ premiere vocal harmony was established in 1985,  starting as back up vocalists for some reigning Philippines pop stars of the 80s, and later turning into a professional group that exists until today. It’s not easy to still be on top after more than two decades, but The CompanY proves they can. Not only staying strong but also getting better with age, just like a good wine. It’s not an easy task to maintain a vocal harmony group, where vocals are the main instruments. It needs a harmonious relationship, the perfect chemistry among the members and loads of creativity. Again, The Company has it all. Many albums, tons of hits, and huge achievements including 36 various music industry awards have already been produced. These facts have placed them as the most awarded recording vocal group in Philippines.

After undergoing a number of personnel changes, The CompanY is now a quintet, composed of Sweet Plantado (soprano), Annie Quintos (soprano/alto), Cecile Bautista (alto), Jay Marquez (tenor), and Moy Ortiz (tenor2/bass). Together this versatile vocal harmony group has explored many forms of music. Traditional/classical choral music, pop, mainstream jazz, smooth jazz, swing, bebop, vocalese, dance, R&B, contemporary acapella, novelty, folk, bossa/Brazilian, gospel, electronica, rap, loungecore, glorious christmas style, musical theater even alternative pop through their career. Their creativities are unbelievable. Within this group are songwriters, vocal/instrumental arrangers, recording and concert producers, voice teachers, recording coaches, choreographers, scriptwriters, stage directors, image consultants, layout artists, set designers, visual artists, studio/session singers, stage actors, workshop masters etc. The CompanY is influenced by many great artists from various era including The Manhattan Transfers, The Singers Unlimited, Swingle Sisters, The Carpenters, Swing Out Sister, Pizzicato Five, Burt Bacharach, Take 6, and many others. The CompanY is also known as a veteran of the concerts both in Philippines and abroad. The CompanY has had the privilege of sharing the stage with some of the greatest international talents such as The Manhattan Transfer, Jim Brickman, Noel Pointer, John Ford Coley, Ambrosia, Kalapana, Kenny Rankin, David Pack, Survivor and Michael Buble.

In March 2007, The CompanY released a very interesting album in the tradition of Brazilian music odyssey entitled Destination: Bossa. It was a very beautiful album as they took a journey into the exotic bossa nova world. The album reflected the impeccable musical taste of Filipinos with a twist of Brazil and went very successful on the market. Following that success, this year The CompanY has released the brand new album entitled “Group Hug”.

“Group Hug” is considered as a tribute and respect to the iconic and legendary groups that have left their indelible mark on the history of popular music. These are the international music titans who have changed and influenced the sound, shapes, feel and look of today’s sonic landscape through the century. They attribute the legendary groups like Abba, The Beatles, The Carpenters, Nirvana, Earth Wind & Fire, The Jacksons, Spiral Staircase, Average White Band, David Foster’s Airplay and last but not least, Queen. The album “Group Hug” itself is a journey through the different layers of music such as Pop, orchestral, classic rock, smooth jazz, the roaring 20’s big band, vocalese, acapella to electronica. It’s a spectrum of music styles and influences in different sound, styles, textures and rhythms.

The album starts with The Beatles‘ hit, “Magical Mystery Tour”. This song starts with a glorious and mystical choir style, and then continues with heavy rock orchestra. Then moves to The Jacksons‘ all time pride, “Blame It On the Boogie”. The CompanY delivered this song in the funky seventies along with the chunky guitar like how it was in the glorious 70’s music. Taste the sweetness of Karen Carpenters‘ unforgettable vocal through a really nice composition, a medley of “You’re The One” and “I Just Fall In Love Again”. It just feels really nice to have a special tender moment with this one, so tender that you’ll close your eyes with a smile listening to it. Let’s move to the next song. It’s a medley of Wild Cherry’s “Play That Funky Music” and Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition”, served in a great vocalise and hands being clapped. It’s funky, and it’s accapella. What a nice one! One of the most difficult songs to be sung comes next. It’s the classic Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”. This time Bohemian Rhapsody appears as the glorious orchestration style. “Should We Carry On”, an Airplay song comes next as a beautiful mellow ballad.

Now the second half of the album starts with a luscious samba rhythm, a new twist on Spiral Starecase’s one hit wonder: “More Today Than Yesterday”. If we’re talking about the essential iconic groups in music history, of course ABBA has to be included. And that’s what they are thinking too. “Take A Chance On Me” appeared in a delightful vocalise style. This one is stunning, a beauty in a vocal harmony master class. Right after that, let’s get back to the roaring 20’s, the swingin’ big band era. Surprisingly the song taken for that is the Earth Wind & Fire’s “Boogie Wonderland”. Imagine if Earth Wind & Fire existed in the 20’s-30’s, this would be how the song came out. They sang it greatly, just right at the quality of Manhattan Transfers or New York Voices. Talking about Manhattan Transfer, the next song is a tribute to them, one of the most famous vocal harmony groups. “Walk In Love” appears in an exotic smooth bossa. This one is a beauty. Close to the end, it’s time for a tribute to Nirvana. “All Apologies” served in a smooth electronic, some sound effects on vocals mixed with the orchestra. And the album reaches the end with The CompanY’s original composition in a sweet acoustic style called “Nandito Pa Rin Tayo”. This song talks about relationships that remain constant and secure in the ever-changing and disposable world. It’s about love and trust, between various kinds of relationship.

The 18th Album of The CompanY, “Group Hug”, is a tribute album to the essential iconic bands that has shaped the history of music for decades. It’s shown The Company’s spirit and passion in stunning vocal harmony. A big round applause also goes to Gerard Salonga and his orchestra, FilharmonikA, for a well-composed beautiful arrangement. This album is indeed a musical journey into many layers of genres as well as a tribute, or should I say a hug group from The CompanY to the legendary groups that have left their mark in the history of popular music. Without them we wouldn’t hear the songs we are enjoying today, and for that we thank them through the wonderful music of The CompanY. Almost 25 years of career and still gets better as the time goes on, heavily gifted and talented, full of creativity, well-planned and organized and most of all the harmonious chemistry with great vocals, these all lead to The CompanY. I look forward to hearing more stuff from them for long time to come. Enjoy this album and have a pleasant journey.

Personnel:

Sweet Plantado (soprano)
Annie Quintos (soprano/alto)
Cecile Bautista (alto)
Jay Marquez (tenor)
Moy Ortiz (tenor2/bass)
Tracklistings:

1. Nandito Pa Rin Tayo (music video – VCD)
2. Magical Mystery Tour – The Beatles
3. Blame It On the Boogie – The Jacksons
4. You’re The One/I Just Fall In Love Again – Carpenters
5. Play That Funky Music/Superstition – Wild Cherry
6. Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
7. Should We Carry On – Airplay
8. More Today Than Yesterday – Spiral Starecase
9. Take A Chance On Me – Abba
10. Boogie Wonderfuland –Earth, Wind and Fire
11. Walk In Love – The Mnhattan Transfer
12. All Apologies – Nirvana
13. Nandito Pa Rin Tayo – The CompanY
14. Nandito Pa Rin Tayo – (minus one/karaoke tracks)

For more info, log on to The CompanY’s official website

Buy The CompanY – Group Hug online at Opmonline.com

Reviewed by: Riandy Kurniawan

Special thanks to :
- Alhenri Wijaya
- mJ Juco of TangerineSkies Artist PR

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