Ourselves the Elves is an indie-alternative rock/ folk-rock
band that formed in 2011 which consists of lead singer/guitarist Alyana Cabral,
rhythm guitarist/backing vocals Akira Medina, Bassist Paula Castillo, and
Drummer Ponch Salvador. Most of the band’s members met in a college dorm around
the University of the Philippines Diliman, and ever since, they’ve been making
music for the loved, departed, and forgotten. Ourselves the Elves are known for
their surf rock type vibe in their music, they are most considerable for
sharing influences from the rise of other twee pop/jangle rock music in the
early 2010’s with bands like Best Coast, Wavves, and earlier Slow Hollow
material.
Most fans know the band’s music when they released their
sophomore EP titled Geography Lessons back in 2015. The EP also acted as a
collaboration and soundtrack for a short film titled “Lisyun Qng Geografia,
Directed by Petersen Vargas. The film has garnered critical acclaim from
critics for its cool soundtrack and themes like the exploration of young love
in the province.
Geography Lessons was in my opinion, a slow burner of an EP.
I wasn’t a fan of the subtle, skeletal guitar riffs in the project. But I was
astonished in some parts of the EP where most of the songs are moving slowly
but gradually building into a relief of powerful ballads and heart pounding --
almost -- atmospheric production.
Learning more about the band when I was in my adolescent
stage (Yes, that’s how young the writer of this entry was), I thought this
second EP of theirs is refreshing. It was a matter of time for this quality of
music to be produced in the region. I then followed listening to their debut EP
titled “It’ll Be Alright” released back in September of 2013. I liked their
debut more than their sophomore EP; the production in that EP is rougher than
you would expect from the band’s debut material but I can’t get enough of its
straightforward songwriting and its raw recording. I was mostly moved by Aly’s
wonderfully written hooks and choruses. And I would strongly suggest longtime
fans to appreciate “It’ll Be Alright” for the merit it stands on. The EP is
filled with catchy tracks and has that folky-like fun when you’re down for a
Sunday drive at the park. Tracks like “Shelter (Oh No),” “Not Me Not You,” and “I
Wouldn’t Mind” are all single material or better off to be individual tracks.
Recently, the band has been taking quite a while to release
new material, but in December of 2016, they released a single titled “Wounds.”
It still has that Geography Lessons quality to it, but I could hear traces of
their old materials, as well as developmental traits the band has learned for a
couple of years. (for example, the guitar being more space-y than their second
EP and the drums being added a little more minimal fee). There are influences
from bedroom pop musicians like Frankie Cosmos and most other TheLazyLazyMe
tracks in YouTube. It’s what you would expect in a Ourselves the Elves track;
open, hollow, and being downright subtle until you notice that the pieces of your
heart are missing. I was somewhat iffy in their supposed new direction in this
track. But I would love to see where they go.
WOUNDS
GEOGRAPHY LESSONS (2015)
Ourselves the Elves live sessions
It'll Be Alright
