This came out last Sunday, and Mia and I were on cloud nine for days. What we appreciate so much about this review (aside from it being well-written) is that the reviewer saw the hard work we put into the project, was spot-on about how much fun I had making the album, and mentioned the musicians who worked with me (they really are an excellent bunch, and I agree that Vic did a brilliant job). To be honest, reading this makes me feel both humbled and proud.
Delightful work: ’80s hits, big-band style
By Pocholo Concepcion
Inquirer
Last updated 00:07am (Mla time) 12/09/2007
MANILA, Philippines – The most delightful, surprising record release this year has got to be Raymond Lauchengco’s new CD, “Full Circle: The Big Band Album” (Viva).
Though it’s purely an all-covers set, the concept that gave life to it is so beautifully executed, that this may well be the standard by which succeeding “revival” projects will be measured.
Lauchengco credits his wife Mia for the idea that inspired him to throw himself completely into the project—pick a set of hit tunes from his era, the 1980s, and sing them like they’ve never been heard before, big-band style.
Brilliant
For any such endeavor to succeed, one needs a good musical director and arranger which Lauchengco found in Vic Oria. Remember the name, because his work here has “brilliance” written on it.
Oria, with co-arranger Ronald Tomas and a nine-piece band including himself on piano and assorted keyboards, overhauls all 10 tracks in the album, making them sound like they’re the greatest songs of the ’80s.
No kidding.
Initially, a look at the titles won’t cause a big stir, but the moment they spin on the CD player, every listener who grew up knowing, loving, maybe even loathing these songs will turn up the vol ume.
“Head Over Heels,” recorded by The Go-Go’s at the height of the ’80s new wave craze, is given a swinging jazz makeover. The original version made fans dance; this one will make them smile while dancing.
Dazzling
“Walking on Sunshine” (Katrina and the Waves), a favorite cover tune of many local bands and still an FM radio staple, starts with Lauchengco singing with a lone stride piano on mono effects and then bursts with a rich, orchestral backup. The effect is dazzling—we are prodded to sing along and smile.
By the third track, “Just Got Lucky” (Jo Boxers), one realizes why this album has a special appeal: it seems Lauchengco’s voice has a more energetic lilt now, and his phrasing is so clear, it’s easy to appreciate the beauty of the lyrics.
But of course the band completes the picture—collectively a talented group of musicians, individually delivering the foundations and accents that make each song stand out. They deserve mention here: Kim Lesaca (bass), Jun Austria (drums), Adam Cesante (electric guitar), Ronnie Marqueses (trombone), Ruel Cabrera (first trumpet), Richie Gonzaga (second trumpet), Rancis De Leon (alto saxophone), Torres (tenor saxophone) and lastly, Oria whom Lauchengco refers to as “Manong Genius.”
Hearing the opening bars to Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder’s “Together in Electric Dreams,” it’s easy to understand why Lauchengco had so much fun doing this album.
Totally reworked
Originally written for a film soundtrack, this synth-pop/dance tune is totally reworked as a ballad, a bit more apt to the bittersweet lyrics.
It’s also surprising to see a ’60s pop classic, “Always Something There To Remind Me” (Burt Bacharach/Hal David) included here, but then we remember the synth-based group Naked Eyes doing a dance cover of the song in ’83—whose memory might fade into oblivion after Lauchengco’s version.
We’ll let you discover for yourselves the other delights in this fine musical collection. Okay, just one more teaser: in “Full Circle,” suddenly, Rick Astley and Wham are not so baduy, after all—in case you hated them 20 years ago.
See the original article here.
