Even to the most jaded of gig-goers, there are just some times when a band leaves you with an enormous sense of well-being. In rare cases, the group’s effectiveness as a unit makes you yearn for encore after encore. And in even rarer cases, the band is so brilliant that you cannot help but feel jealous, wishing beyond all reason to play a part (however small) in said group’s near- perfect musical alchemy. Imago is all of this, and so much more.

With the October release of a new album, the band has solidified its reputation as one of the freshest, dedicated and most unique acts in the local music scene. With true cross-over capabilities, it would be foolish to even attempt categorizing Imago into a particular genre. And considering they only have a handful of albums to their name, the body of work is indeed impressive.

The songs cannot be called “pop,” although they do retain the necessary pop sensibility that keep even the most casual of listeners interested. Nor are they “rock,” despite the undeniable and omnipresent edginess that laces the work. Add certain elements of ballad-writing and what you get is a profound quilt of stylistic disparity that, when placed in the musical blender, form something brand-spanking-new. In other words, there really isn’t anybody out there (foreign or local) that sounds like Imago… and that achievement alone is worthy of endless praise.

There is something infinitely majestic about Imago’s songs, which is immediately indicative of each member’s considerable talent. Individually, there are no weak links within the band. Tim Cacho’s sweeping guitar lines are emotional, as well as catchy. He instinctively seems to know when to break out and when to pull back, accentuating the peaks and valleys of each song. Still, there are moments of an unmistakable metal-esque edge that, rather than being a bad thing, further adds to the complexity of Imago’s sound. Myrene Academia’s thoughtful bass runs provide a competent bottom end, reminiscent of The Who’s John Entwistle. She lays down the unshakable foundation that the rest of the band builds upon. Zach Lucero’s technical proficiency as a drummer is staggering. Just as he plays support, keeping the band’s individual skills from spiraling out of control, his intense cymbal crashes and drum rolls prove that he is a star in his own right. Most importantly, he knows how to listen to his cohorts, even from behind the kit. This leaves us Aia De Leon who possesses, perhaps, one of the most beautiful voices in Filipino music ever. It may even be an understatement to say that her vocal cords should be declared a national treasure. When she sings “Akap” (track 3 of the new album) live, you really don’t know whether to weep at the poignancy of her lyrics, or fall in love with Aia herself. I think I did both.

When these four musicians come together, you realize just how potent music can be. But really, any accolade I can throw at the direction of this band will fall inevitably into the realm of faint praise, no matter how sincere I am. Imago is merely content to let the music speak for itself. And it will.

C.C.