Ahead

Philippine group White Lies combines the adventurousness of rock music with the tenderness of middle-of-the-road love songs on the band's 1997 release Ahead. While White Lies can play enchanting pop/rock, as heard on "Buhay Banda" (Band Life), White Lies is well aware of the country's predilection for easy listening love songs, and seven of the album's eight songs consist of smooth balladry. Nonetheless, White Lies gives an edge to some ballads with searing electric guitar fills, hard-edged chord progressions, and an adventurous use of the keyboards. The opening "Inaamin Ko" (I Admit), for example, may be at heart a passionate, middle-of-the-road love song, but the rock-styled instrumentation adds an element of grit. Another ballad, "When Will You Be Mine," benefits from imaginative keyboard fills and well-placed, hard-edged guitar work. In addition, the melody to "When Will Be You Be Mine," composed by group member Rosgie de Leon, is charming and memorable. The rollicking "Buhay Banda" (Band Life) is unabashedly pop/rock, and the excellent instrumentation figures prominently, spearheaded by engaging organ and guitar. It should be mentioned that the lead and backing harmonies on this song and throughout the album are of a high caliber. Some ballads contain a lesser degree of rock instrumentation, and the songwriting is tilted more toward easy listening, including "First Love Never Dies," "Mahal Na Mahal Kita," and "Sana'y Maulit Pa" (Hope It's Going to Happen Again). These songs are less exciting than the rock-inclined ballads, but White Lies aims for a wide assortment of Philippine listeners, and mostly succeeds.