The China Chow King and his Cohorts

There's a discussion on the Electronica Manila mailing list about the importance of adding a visual element to one's performance, especially for Live Electronica acts. We Live PA's tend to be visually boring when we play onstage, so we really need to do something catchy.

This was taken at a Halloween dance party in the late 90s. The band was PORN with guest performers Malek and Karlo. O, diba?

Wolfmann, RIP

Wolfmann, RIP

Aural Text mourns the passing of fellow Electronica Manila artist Wilfrid "Wolfmann" Hernandez, who died last Sunday, August 21, after suffering from an aneurysm in the brain. His body lies in state at the Funeraria Paz, Manila Memorial, along Sucat Road. Funeral details to follow.

Those who wish to bid him goodbye may post comments below. We will forward these to the family and friends he leaves behind.

So Long, Wolfmann

I guess you could call me one of the old farts of Electronica Manila and I guess an even older fart when it comes to the Pinoy Electronica Scene. I've been involved in this scene one way or another since 1995. I've seen my share of acts come and go. I've also seen this once eclectic umbrella genre get acculturated into the mainstream, thanks to acts like Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, and, in good ol' Manila, Wolfmann (two Ns, please).

I don't know how Wolfmann would feel about being called a crossover artist, but that's how I see him. By force of stubborn will, he braved derision from the rockers and criticism from electronic purists and emerged victorious. Whether he liked it or not he was a hybrid, a hyperactive compromise that worked and, slowly but inexorably, clicked with Filipino music lovers.

Professionally, he was one of the few people I could trust my gear with. As a fellow child of the 'Tribe, he could easily perform a kicking jam using my equipment, allowing me to sit back and enjoy a beer and the Wolfmann take on my patterns. I'd listen to him twiddling and tweaking my gear and I'd think, "why don't I do that?" Then of course, he'd find a pair of old drum sticks lying around and he'd pound out a backing rhythm on beat up stage drums and we wouldn't mind.

Recently I relayed to the list that one of my long-time unrealized musical goals was an industrial project a la Nine Inch Nails. Industrial was my entry point into electronic music, having been a staunch death-to-disco in my younger days. Wolfmann was the first to volunteer, offering to play sawtooth guitar over my thunder. Sadly, we'll never know how that would have turned out.

So, I lift up a beer to the Wolfmann, and with the volume cranked up to eleven I press play on my Electribe, squelching sonic-hell out of it and scaring all the birds away. Happy howling in the hereafter, Wolfmann. May your signal never decay.

Bye,

One
Lone
Clone

And if anyone can give me samples of Wilf on guitar, I would be very grateful.

Terno Au Go Go Quattro

By popular demand, Terno Recordings' legendary shindig is back for a fourth time. Headlining the gig are Radioactive Sago Project, Juan Pablo Dream, Up Dharma Down, Wahijuara, Drip and Giniling Festival. Saguijo this September 3. Show starts at 8:30. It's a hipster's wet dream come true so be there or be, uhm, inamoo!

it is imperative that you go see at least one of these

German Silent Film Festival : Classic German
Silent Films by Fritz Lang



Film screenings
August 4, 11, 18, 25, 2005
Venue: SM Megamall ( at 8:00 pm)
Free Admission
Tel: + 63 2 722 4671 to 73
goethepr@pldtdsl.net

Schedule of Film screenings:

Aug 4 - METROPOLIS, music by Rubber Inc
Aug 11 - SPIES, music by The Sammy Asuncion Group
Aug 18 - DR. MABUSE, THE GAMBLEr, music by Tots
Tolentino and Buhay
Aug 25 - DESTINY, music by Cynthia Alexander

After the success of last year's "Movies Live:
Classic German Silent Movies 1922-1927", the
Goethe-Institut Manila is back with another dose
of classic German silent movies. "Movies Live II:
German Silent Film Festival" will feature the
films of Austrian-American director Fritz Lang,
whose "Metropolis" is widely considered the most
influential silent film ever made.

Fritz Lang (1890-1976) worked in Germany making
films that tackled themes like madness, cruelty,
fear and death until 1932, when he fled the
country to escape the Nazis. He would eventually
end up in Hollywood, where he directed films for
over 20 years. Lang was described by many as a
perfectionist, sometimes even tyrannical, and
gained infamy for his maltreatment of actors.
Despite that, it cannot be denied that he was a
pioneer: it would be difficult to imagine science
fiction or fantasy today without "Metropolis".

Included in this year's set of films are "Dr.
Mabuse the Gambler, Part I: A Portrait of Our
Time", "Dr. Mabuse the Gambler, Part II: Inferno,
a Play of People in Our Time", a two-part
detective story about the mad Dr. Mabuse, a master
of disguises, and "Spies", a film about the leader
of an international bank who doubles as a criminal
mastermind. "Metropolis" will also be shown. All
films will be accompanied by a live music score
done by some of the country's best bands.