Recording: Pantayo

Artist: Pantayo

Songs: Senselong + Duyug^*

Recorded at The Music Gallery ("X Avant X"), October 16, 2015.

Pantayo - Senselong

Pantayo - Duyug

This year's X Avant not only celebrated the festival's tenth anniversary, but also the Music Gallery's 40th season. No surprise, then, that the festival incorporated various methods to look back at the MG's legacy — but also to look forward. This seven-member kulintang ensemble augmented traditional Philippine gong grooves with modern flourishes like a drumkit and synthesizer. The resultant sounds paid tribute both to where they were from and where they are now — and even took the time to point out the commonalities of Aboriginal cultures under strain both in Canada and the Philippines. But beyond that, this was some really fantastic music, possibly even my fave set from the whole festival. Cheers to the Music Gallery for booking them — now I'm hoping to see them on some other bills as well.

^* Thanks to the group for passing along the titles to these.