Some records merely soundtrack a fleeting vibe, but others are built to linger long after the queue ends. Indeed, with their sophomore album AFTER OURS, Filipino city-pop mainstays ALYSON deliver the latter: a richly textured, emotionally expansive record that firmly cements them as the ultimate torchbearers of modern OPM.
ALYSON on Organized Madness
While their debut album, Definitely Love!, was a masterclass in sun-drenched, romantic escapism, AFTER OURS enters a much braver sonic era. Specifically, it’s a deep dive into the post-party comedown, exploring the messy aftermath of intimacy, late-night longing, and the emotional reckoning that follows the honeymoon phase.
Consequently, ALYSON has seriously leveled up their crate-digging sensibilities. As a result, the album breathes a dense blend of Japanese city pop, jazz fusion, Brazilian funk, Motown, Philly soul, and vintage Manila Sound.
Furthermore, instead of chasing viral, algorithmic TikTok singles, the collective opted for a cohesive, conceptual body of work. By doing so, they balance meticulous arrangements with what they call “organized madness” in form and structure.
‘AFTER OURS’ is what happens when love lingers longer, when the fire starts burning through and you’re left with embers”
shares lyricist and frontman Pio Ligot.
Moreover, even the title is a play on the late-night hours when the party’s over and you’re just left alone with your thoughts. Ultimately, it’s our way of transitioning from starry-eyed infatuation to the raw, realistic side of love.”
In addition, for bassist and producer Marcus Mababangloob, the record showcases a massive creative evolution.
In fact, we wanted to show the world who we are. AFTER OURS is a major step forward because the production has matured, and we’re much more locked in as a unit compared to a couple of years ago”
Love in Analog
Naturally, that artistic maturity translates directly into their analog-leaning production style. Rejecting the sterile perfection of modern bedroom-pop DAWs, ALYSON approached the record with old-school studio discipline, consequently writing and rehearsing the material for a year before tracking.
To capture an organic, breathing dynamic, the majority of the album was tracked live in large ensemble rooms, thereby strictly limiting overdubs to preserve the raw chemistry of a live performance. In tandem with this approach, teaming up with orchestral arranger and trumpeter David Jorvina allowed the band to inject the tracklist with lush, ornate horn and string sections that maximize the album’s cinematic scale.
We wanted the arrangement to ebb and flow naturally with the emotional arc of the lyrics, so tracking it live was non-negotiable—otherwise, a metronome would have just killed the groove,”
Marcus explains.
Granted, it’s a very old-school workflow, but it’s an intentional aesthetic choice to honor the records that inspired us. Above all, we wanted to prove that live tracking isn’t a compromise; rather, it’s what gives the record its distinct warmth and soul.”
Meanwhile, the tracklist boasts a standout feature from indie artist Paprikka on “Talaga,” a track that lines up as a classic city-pop duet dripping with the nostalgic, theatrical energy of vintage retro-anime romances.
On the other hand, deep cuts like “Ikaw Lagi,” “Landi,” “Bighani,” and “Kung Sakaling Tanawin” find ALYSON at their most experimental—rhythmically daring and completely unfiltered.
AFTER OURS is here!
To give the album its final and authentic polish, AFTER OURS was mastered in Tokyo by legendary audio engineer Eiji Hirano (famed for his work with iconic Japanese city-pop outfit Ryusenkei). Consequently, this gives the record a direct sonic lineage to the very scene that birthed the genre.
In conclusion, for day-ones, AFTER OURS captures a band shedding all fear in both sound and storytelling. Therefore, it stands as a flawless gateway into one of the local indie scene’s most ambitious acts, proving that ALYSON isn’t just riding the vintage wave, but completely rewriting the rules of contemporary OPM.
Presented by Offshore Music, AFTER OURS Tracklist:
- IKAW LAGI
- LANDI
- BIGHANI
- KUNG SAKALING TANAWIN
- TALAGA
- GOODBYE, SUMMER
- 24/7 LOVE & CARE
- DI MAKAPANIWALA
Out now via Offshore Music, Stream AFTER OURS on all major digital music platforms worldwide.
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