Manuel Nicolas Alvero

Most days, Manuel Nicolas Alvero sings, plays guitar, jumps around, fights crime, and generates Kirbyesque dots of pure cosmic radiation for Ang Bandang Shirley, Manila’s leading providers of hummable punk fun. Some nights, though, 10 minutes will pass w/ no crime happening. During those 10 minutes, Manuel will park his ship, focus on his breathing, plug into a smaller amp, and record a peaceful, minor-key ditty over a simple loop. After he’s done w/ one ditty, he moves unfussily on to another one. Mebbe this next one has more echo on it, and mebbe his synth’s setting is Water Droplet Into Cave Pool. Mebbe he’ll channel James McNew. Mebbe he’ll let Simon do th singing on this one. Pretty soon, more crimes will happen, and Manuel’s Shirleyphone will ring. “It’s all downhill from here,” he murmurs, which means life is getting harder and harder, or easier and easier. For 10 minutes, we focus on our breathing, prepared for good or evil. Galactus could come calling, but it could be just to say hello.

MUSIC:

Album: So Much Excelsior EP
Release Date: 26 October 2009

1. Grand Finale

2. Slow Dance

3. So Much Excelsior

4. Isobel

5. Horoscopic

Download the EP: Click Here