Kaba

In early 1999, 18-year-old Philippine female artist Tootsie Guevara released Kaba (translated as "Palpating Heart"). The album's sound is rooted in easy listening love songs, a style of music quite popular in the Philippines, but several numbers have more substance than the usual bland fare. In many cases, the songs are elevated to a higher creative plateau by the interesting arrangements. There are also two exciting dance numbers: on "Panaginip Lang Kaya?" ("Is It Only a Dream?") and "Bakit Ba Ganyan Ka?" ("Why Are You Like That?") Guevara displays her versatility. "Kaba," a remake of a song first performed by Philippine artist Ten-ten Munoz, gained much airplay and was a hit for Guevara in 1999. One of her best performances, however, comes on the slow-paced and intimate "I Love the Way," where she delves into the lyrics and makes the melody come alive, painting a vivid picture of the vagaries of love. "Hanggang Dito Na Lang Ba?" ("Is It Only Up to Here?") transcends standard easy listening fare with its exciting, adventurous arrangement featuring a syncopated drum beat and intriguing, whistle-like keyboard fills. Guevara may not be a teenage diva, but she possesses a nice voice and good musical instincts.