Ah, if you’ve been around long enough to know, “these go to eleven” is a quote from Spinal Tap guitarist Nigel Tufnel (the fictional character played by actor Christopher Guest) as he discusses the merits of having a half-stack Marshall amplifier head that goes to eleven as opposed to the traditional limit of ten. As Nigel himself said: “if we need that extra push over the cliff, you know what we do?..eleven,” adding “it’s one louder” just to drive home his point.
Spinal Tap references aside, “11” is also the title of the just released new album by Truefaith. Album number “11” is definitely a career milestone for the hit Pinoy band who’s brought us the hits “Perfect,” “Everything She Wore,” “Huwag Na Lang Kaya,” “Dahil Ikaw,” “Kung Okay Lang Sa’yo” and “Yun Lang” to name some of probably a dozen career hits that span their almost 30-year career that started in the early 90’s and remains substantial until now.
According to founder and lead vocalist Medwin Marfil the new record was originally slated for release back in 2020. But we all know what happened then. So Marfil, brother and acoustic rhythm guitarist Eugene, bassist Macky Macaventa, lead guitarist Allan Elgar, keyboardist Jake Lumacad and drummer Kaka Quisumbing, opted to release a couple of singles instead, starting with 2020’s excellent “Dyahe”--whose sound harkened back to the “Perfect” days--and then again with the electro-pop tinged “Your Ready Smile” the same year and 2021’s catchy new wave tinged “Refriend.”
These songs now join three more new tunes to make up “11.” Starting with the Macky Macaventa-written single titled “Muli” whose theme, appropriately enough, seems a throwback to the good ol’ 90’s as Medwin sings: ‘Tandang-tanda ko pa noong una / sakay-sakay sa ‘ting pulang Corolla / papauwi pa lang mula Mendiola / Wala kang kibo,walang salita / ganun-ganun na lang ang gulat ko / biglaan pagbabago / ngumiti ka na muli,’ as Jake’s arpeggiator lays down the melodic bed for the rest of the band to jump in and follow in that easy loping grace and rhythm that Truefaith has refined over the years. I can totally relate with Truefaith as they sing about the simpler days and the memory of a smile that never fades, I mean, has it really been almost 3 decades since? In just a few short years, Truefaith, at least the core members, are pushing the half-century mark, as do their longtime listeners. So give us a break if we look back on our life a bit.
Opening track “Go Ka Na” is a party number that reminds of late 80’s pop. The intro includes what suspiciously sounds like cat sounds that the band sampled into the track. Wouldn’t be surprised if they’re mimicking feline sounds as writer Medwin is one of the biggest cat lovers I know of. The track is equal parts The Blow Monkeys, Toto and yes, TF. I also like the fact that the band keeps true to their roots as their new wave influences keep cropping up on their songs up til now like on mid-tempo number “Tulala.”
After ten albums, two best-of-compilations (by my count), and now another studio album, Truefaith has officially entered legacy artist status. Not many active Pinoy pop music bands can claim that. But Truefaith can. As Nigel says about 11, "it's one louder."