I love the way Pinoy Rock became one of those genres that pretty much subsumed every other guitar genre and, in a sense, disappear. All genres should follow this pattern and, in doing so, render the word 'genre' completely meaningless in music.
Its origins can be traced back to the 1960s when instrumental Filipino bands, inspired inevitably by The Beatles and other English combos, began adding vocals. Although much of this resulted in easy listening abominations - as happens everywhere - some bands went in more interesting directions and a collection of this music is featured here, all of which appeared in the the Philippines between 1971 and 1978.
Much of what's collected on Hard Philippines exemplifies what happens when guitarists who know how to use them begin to defy convention and lose control of their instruments to enter freakout territory. There's musicianship to admire here but more worthy of your attention is that submission to the freakout and where it takes you.
The album is my featured compilation in this month's Dandelion Radio show. Bathe in it.
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