Cynthia Alexander’s Comet’s Tail
Cynthia Alexander’s third album, Comet’s Tail
In the overly saturated world of bands in the local music scene lately, it’s really hard to find one who can offer something new and stay there for a while without being dragged into the conventional sound of pop/rock and endless adaptations into the acoustic side of song (I’m pointing at you MYMP and Nina!). Where Kitchie Nadal, Barbie Almadis, Mishka Adams, Mojofly, Imago and Session Road may have defined the female rock genre with their own style, we can’t deny there are a lot of wannabes who try to follow their path and thus ending up sounding the same.
And good thing for all of us, guitar goddess, Cynthia Alexander, finally released her third album “Comet’s Tail“, after 5 years, following her successful venture into independent release of Rippingyarns. I’ve always been a fan of her ethnic-rock fusioned style, dreamy sound and poetic lyrics that have become her own unique trademarked style. Her new album is a refreshing release from all the pop/rock sounds bombarding our airwaves.
“Comet’s Tail” seems to follow the same path as Rippingyarns but on a darker and somber tone that seems to speak of death, life, moving on and in the end, assurance. This may have been a reflection of Cynthia’s state after the death of her father. Still, the album is not all gloomy, there are upbeat songs that lighten up the mood and songs that set you in the mood of serenity.
Musically, this may be Cynthia’s most dynamic album to date. I’m just in awe as I listen to the outstanding production and instrumentation done here. Each song showcases her versatility as an artist.
“Torquoise Blue” opens the album with her signature dreamy sound, speaking about loss and sadness, then we are sucked into the uncertainties and possibilities of life in “Thioviolight” melodic spin, to follow with a gripping Poem by Lia lopez Chua “Alone”. “Mortal Merry go round” lightens up the mood with acceptance of life as it is, followed by the amazing instrumentation of “Mantra” with only the lyrics “Gopala/ govinda/ rama/ Madana Mohana” chanted over and over again (Reminds me of Imago’s “Rainsong” with and Indian spin). “Knowing” displays Cynthia’s award winning guitar skills that seems to open up to “Heya“, a rock-edged beat sound that’s becoming one of my favourite.
“108 eyes” is a beautiful short song about dismissal or rejection with lyrics like “I’m playing with shadows/ It’s getting to dark to play” and “I’m hung/ In the grey of a cloud/ You pretend I don’t exist/ Remember me?“. “Dragonfly” is a fleeting piano piece with captivating chorus. “Moon over you” is a fun tune about getting over. “Brandnewday” is a song about saying goodbye and looking into the future. “Comet’s Tail” opens up like a Mozart-Opus and suck you in with melodic chorus of “I find me/ finding you/ Finding me/ finding you/ finding me“. The album ends with a very re-assuring “Emptyhanded“. A guitar ridden song with lyrics derived from Bhagavad-Gita. A very inspiring ending “We have come emptyhanded/ We will go emptyhanded”
“Comet’s Tail” is a refreshing release from Philippine’s gem of an artist Cynthia Alexander. Be sure to catch its tail and experience flying through the layered surreal and dreamy sound and poetic masterpieces of this album.
Tags: Music
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Sunday, November 6th, 2005 at 10:43 am 
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November 8th, 2005 at 1:06 pm
lately nahihilig ako sa myx, doon ko nakikita na may mga artist wannabes nga. siguro kulang sa time sa tv kaya di ko masyadong napapansin yung myx. sana ma tiyempuhan ko si cynthia alexander sa myx.
November 8th, 2005 at 2:07 pm
http://www.filipinopodcasts.blogspot.com
check this Blog Allan Pineda from the Black Eyed Peas is featured…. a blog by a Filipino reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle —Benjamin Pimentel Jr.
We should be Proud to be A FILIPINO
November 8th, 2005 at 6:08 pm
Hey Global Trekker Cruise, Cynthia was featured as MTV’s Rising Star of the month a few months ago. Haven’t seen her videos in MYX yet though.
Hi Achilles, interesting link and would look into it more. Yes, I am proud to be a Filipino.
January 14th, 2006 at 10:51 am
hey, this is great piece about cynthia.
February 28th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
Cynthia is the only female musician I respect and admire so much so far… I used to like Aya of Imago so much until she started singing “tara lets..tara tara tara lets…”
March 11th, 2007 at 1:22 pm
bow tayo kay cynthia.
walang paltos, palaging the best ang tugtugan.
ikaw ang boss ko!
July 26th, 2007 at 2:37 am
Read this via a related post. Man, I love Cynthia Alexander too. And I like 108 eyes. You should have seen how starstruck I was when I saw her with her daughter at SM North EDSA a few years back! Haha.
October 10th, 2007 at 11:09 am
Here’s a paragraph from my blog about Conspiracy Garden Cafe, a bar in Q.C. where Cynthia is also a co-owner.
Saturday is usually a busy night for Conspiracy, I nursed my San Mig Light (37 pesos) as Cynthia Alexander starts out the night’s performance with a powerful chant. The night had just begun.
It was eight years ago on a UP Fair Concert at the Sunken Garden when I first heard Cynthia Alexander’s music. Three solo albums and eight years of listening to Cynthia’s recordings and watching her live performances, my soul becomes enchanted with her songs and chants. She may have been a high priestess in her past life, with her rare ability to touch the ethereal strings and provide comfort for my wandering spirit. Her music became my constant companion on my mountain treks.
She ended the night with a soulful humming of “Comfort In Your Strangeness”, an emotional song that is almost like a prayer.
“I have been to places far and deep, in my mind only to find, comfort in your strangeness”.
—Lyrics from Cynthia Alexander’s Comfort In Your Strangeness