Cynthia Alexander's Comet's Tail

Cynthia Alexander’s third album, Comet’s Tail In the overly saturated world of bands in the local music scene lately, it’s really hard to fi...

Cynthia Alexander’s third album, Comet’s Tail

In the overly saturated world of bands in the local music scene lately, it’s really hard to find one who can offer something new and stay there for a while without being dragged into the conventional sound of pop/rock and endless adaptations into the acoustic side of song (I’m pointing at you MYMP and Nina!). Where Kitchie Nadal, Barbie Almadis, Mishka Adams, Mojofly, Imago and Session Road may have defined the female rock genre with their own style, we can’t deny there are a lot of wannabes who try to follow their path and thus ending up sounding the same.

And good thing for all of us, guitar goddess, Cynthia Alexander, finally released her third album “Comet’s Tail“, after 5 years, following her successful venture into independent release of Rippingyarns. I’ve always been a fan of her ethnic-rock fusioned style, dreamy sound and poetic lyrics that have become her own unique trademarked style. Her new album is a refreshing release from all the pop/rock sounds bombarding our airwaves.

“Comet’s Tail” seems to follow the same path as Rippingyarns but on a darker and somber tone that seems to speak of death, life, moving on and in the end, assurance. This may have been a reflection of Cynthia’s state after the death of her father. Still, the album is not all gloomy, there are upbeat songs that lighten up the mood and songs that set you in the mood of serenity.

Musically, this may be Cynthia’s most dynamic album to date. I’m just in awe as I listen to the outstanding production and instrumentation done here. Each song showcases her versatility as an artist.

“Torquoise Blue” opens the album with her signature dreamy sound, speaking about loss and sadness, then we are sucked into the uncertainties and possibilities of life in “Thioviolight” melodic spin, to follow with a gripping Poem by Lia lopez Chua “Alone”. “Mortal Merry go round” lightens up the mood with acceptance of life as it is, followed by the amazing instrumentation of “Mantra” with only the lyrics “Gopala/ govinda/ rama/ Madana Mohana” chanted over and over again (Reminds me of Imago’s “Rainsong” with and Indian spin). “Knowing” displays Cynthia’s award winning guitar skills that seems to open up to “Heya“, a rock-edged beat sound that’s becoming one of my favourite.

“108 eyes” is a beautiful short song about dismissal or rejection with lyrics like “I’m playing with shadows/ It’s getting to dark to play” and “I’m hung/ In the grey of a cloud/ You pretend I don’t exist/ Remember me?“. “Dragonfly” is a fleeting piano piece with captivating chorus. “Moon over you” is a fun tune about getting over. “Brandnewday” is a song about saying goodbye and looking into the future. “Comet’s Tail” opens up like a Mozart-Opus and suck you in with melodic chorus of “I find me/ finding you/ Finding me/ finding you/ finding me“. The album ends with a very re-assuring “Emptyhanded“. A guitar ridden song with lyrics derived from Bhagavad-Gita. A very inspiring ending “We have come emptyhanded/ We will go emptyhanded”

“Comet’s Tail” is a refreshing release from Philippine’s gem of an artist Cynthia Alexander. Be sure to catch its tail and experience flying through the layered surreal and dreamy sound and poetic masterpieces of this album.