Up dharma Down - Fragmented

by fatfingur
July 21st, 2006 11 Comments

I’m listening to some indie band named Up karma clown… Did I say that right? Oops sorry. Up dharma down pala. What’s with the weird name anyway? It sounds like indian religion to me. Parang pampatulog pero asteeg. They wrote the radio friendly soul-jazzy song called “oo”.

Well, according to the band, they got their name from the word “Dharma” which means “the laws of life”. The band explains: “it is a law that connects everything in existence no matter how diverse they are. This is how the band explains their music, having rather dissimilar musical influences that results into a dynamic sound that still meets halfway as it appeals to a certain group of listeners almost everywhere.”

Whatever.

So how do you describe their music? It’s like a combination of Soul, Rock, Jazz and Electronic music. From the sound of it, I don’t think that’s even called fusion. The band is composed of Armi Millare, the strong female voice that triggers your senses to virtual heaven (and sleep), Paul Yap on bass, Carlos Tanada on guitars and Ean Mayor for the drums, loops and samples. Some of their lyrics sounds like “Pagsubok” by the disbanded Color It Red.

For an indie record, this album is very good. Maganda ang pagkakarecord at mix. I really like the reverb. Medyo malamig. It makes you feel like your soul separates from your body. The guitars have a nice and clean sound enhanced with good effects. You can hear the phase and flange, coming out from the left and right speakers. Cool panning. The bass fills up the “empty sound” on their music by using fourth and fifth note chords and it’s quite effective. Bagay naman sa music nila. You can also hear a lot of samples on the background which they used as something to make the sound “thicker.” The drum part is ok although some of it are electronic. Pero ang pinakamatindi talaga sa kanila ay ang vocalist. I would love to watch her sing live. It fills my “lower head” with blood when I hear her voice.

If you are the type of guy na ngayon lang namulat sa rock music at ang rock music genre lang na alam mo ay emo, this one is not for you. Pero if you are some kind of guy who listens to Death Metal Grind metal, Trash Metal, etc… try listening to their album first before you buy it. Kung mahilig ka naman kay nora Aunor or Sharon Cuneta, pwede rin tong album na to sa yo. At Kung masugid na tagasuporta ka naman ng indie music, wag ka na mag-isip at bumili ka na.

Their album, Fragmented is composed of 12 tracks. Their famous single “Oo” can be heard on the NU 107. Their videos “Maybe” and “Pagagos” are nominated for MTV Pilipinas Awards2006. If you wanna see Up dharma Down perfom live, you can catch them on Saguijo on Saturday, July 22, 2006.

Rating: B

About fatfingur: The rock dude who loves design and details..

1. Rigs 07.21.06 / 6am

   The funky aspect of Up dharma Down makes one develop an imaginary world while cruising on a 1963 Cadillac Eldorado Biamitiz convertible. It makes you feel high while driving and see the world in a kaleidoscope view, with flashes of different colored lights passing you by. Up dharma Down really meant when Paul Yap said “we move everyday and are touched by different kinds of entities.” You’ll feel those when you’re listening to their music. Up dharma Down sounds arrangements very well produce a continuous, unified, and evocative compositions.
2. selzki 07.21.06 / 9pm

   I’ve been a follower of rock music and i don’t event know what Emo is is that a band or a new rock “evolution”.

   I’ve been out of touch from the indie scene for a long time now. Maybe it’s time to go back
3. Gerry D 07.21.06 / 10pm

   UP DHARMA DOWN\\\’s FRAGMENTED is a release of TERNO Recordings. The record is a very polished production, the song arrangements are just about right, the sounds have been meticulously crafted - lush reverbs, spacious, drums and bass groove nice - UP DHARMA DOWN\\\\\\\’s music sounds as ethereal and exotic as their name suggests.

   PACKAGING wise - gotta love it, no plastic CD tray - earth friendly. In fact, UDD\\\\\\\’s logo mimics that of RECYCLE logo. Clever! I bought a copy, their videos were nice, they play good live, gotta support good OPM records. Mabuhay Pinoy rock music.
4. fatfingur 07.23.06 / 10pm

   I’ve been a follower of rock music and i don’t event know what Emo is is that a band or a new rock “evolution”.

   Emo isn’t a band. It’s a basically a genre of music. Naalala mo yung “grunge” era? It’s basically like that. Parang branding ng music. Dito kasi sa pinas, sa mga newbie “rockers” sa emo sila namumulat so it’s like some fad. Pero di naman lahat. yung mga “posers” lang.

   Read more about emo.
5. Diana 08.07.06 / 10am

   I simply love updharmadown to bits. :}
6. Neil 09.14.06 / 9am

   superb album..galing gumamit ng efx…walang takot sumubok sa lahat ng tunog..pati drums pinaglaruan…napakalinis..vocals, kahit puro reverb, me kagat pa rin..galing ng boses..tunog foreign…downside??? di lahat kayang arukin ng mga makikinig..depende tlga kung mejo maluwang ang utak mo at marunong tumanggap ng ibang tunog..hirap kasi ngayun sa ibang kabataan, porma ang iniisip sa pagbabanda, hindi ang musika…poser ba twag dun? hehehe…alam ninyo kung sino sino kau…
7. fatfingur 09.19.06 / 2am

   poser ba twag dun?

   oo poser ang tawag dun. yung feeling marunong sa ginagawa wala naman pala alam. puro porma lang. para lang matawag na astig, eh hanggang panlabas lang pala. ampao kumbaga.
8. arnie 10.07.06 / 1pm

   i really like the song “oo”. lagi ko nga inaabangan un video nun sa tv eh. Nagagandahan tlga ako dun sa lamig ng tugtugan sa single na ito, talagang todo kilig hanggang buto! hehe.. kung naghahanap kau ng bagong tugtugan, & kun open minded kau sa ibang tunog, try nyo up dharma down. Sadly, i still do not have a copy of the album, but i am planning to puchase one soon..
9. mack 10.24.06 / 8am

   … ok… this is my 1st tym to write my feedback hir… actualy, msaya nga ung 1st encounter q dun sa song… ung “oo”, ganda nung song n un…matgal q n din nar2nig ung up dharma down pati songs… maganda!!!
10. tommy 12.10.06 / 9am

    galing… nakakabighani ng tenga…. i lab… layag,oo,lazy daisy lahat
11. riyaLyn 01.11.07 / 11pm

    dis is d 1st tym i wiL ryt a fEedbAck hir… if ever that ARMI MILLARE wiL read this,, i’d Lyk her t0 kn0w that i’m her bigGest fan.. thank y0u up dharma down for c0ming int0 my Lyf..