Maya Herras

Earphones on, volume up; Just a minute of listening to the first song on the CD and you’ll already be hooked—hungry to hear what else Up Dharma Down’s Capacities have in store.

Four years after releasing Bipolar, the award-winning Filipino rock band presented the public with their latest album last November 2012. Hundreds of fans lined up just to have their copies signed by UDD’s members—Armi Millare, Paul Yap, Ean Mayor and Carlos Tanada—eager to listen to their fresh, new tracks.

Capacities, unlike the past two albums (Bipolar, 2008 and Fragmented, 2006), is less electric and more 80’s synth-pop—while preserving the band’s signature sound.

A good example of this is Turn it well, the first track off the album, containing synth beats synchronized with several guitar riffs—perfect for a long drive or for trips to the seaside.

Luna, Thinker and Indak are both relaxing from start-to-finish—guaranteed to take the stress away after a long workday; while Night Drops and Kulang  both  have an  electric, clubby feel.  

Tadhana, Parks and Feelings are full of heartfelt and beautifully written lyrics—reaching out to relate to the listener, without losing their upbeat vibe.

Up Dharma Down describes their new album as more “radio-friendly”—being less of art and more of 70’s and 80’s pop.

A few fans have said that they preferred more of UDD’s electric, futuristic sound—while most have described Capacities as part of the band’s maturity—exploring more concepts and sounds rather than sticking to just one method. Either way, UDD has created yet another masterpiece—being the definition of venturing into wider places, while keeping their feet on the ground.

(Source: http://siopaotonicsnaps.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/udd-2-2.jpg?w=640&h=426)