Sindao Banisil, PAKARADIA-AN, Tao Music, 1997
Aural Pleasures: Traditional Filipino Music Provides an Earful of Charged Emotion

By John Clewley, Bangkok Post, September 9, 1997

Independent label Tao Music of the Philippines has been busy recently recording and creating a unique range of traditional and collaborative Filipino musics. Founded in 1994 by, among others, rising singer/ songwriter Grace Nono, the label has so far featured a couple of well-received albums by Nono and one I reviewed earlier this year - a collaborative effort, Metronomad, by a large group called Pinikpikan.

Tao's latest release is the beautifully-packaged music cassette Pakaradia-an (Tao Music Q4, Philippines, 1997), which features Filipina traditional singer Sindao Banisil, one of the last performers of Maranao oral traditions. The Maranao, or "people of the lake," live in the highlands of Western Mindanao, in the south of the Philippines.)

Pakaradia-an is a compilation of lullabies, instruments, children;s and religious songs. Some of the songs are connected with the Maranao epic tale "Darangen," which is sung in special vocal styles that feature classical language and texts from the Koran. (Mindanao is partly a Muslim area within the Philippines.)

Veteral Banisil is in a unique position to interpret the music; she was brought-up as a princess and taught Maranao oral styles, music and dancing privately. She mastered many traditional instruments- several tracks feature what I assume is the Filipino equivalent of the Jews harp and they are fascinating. During festivals and celebrations, Banisil would also serve as a poet/ philosopher.

But it is Banisil's singing that I found most compelling. She has a powerful voice that carries a strong emotional charge; the listener feels this whether the subject be a lullaby, a love song or a darangen.

Tao Music is quietly breaking with traditions here in Southeast Asia, although the little indi is almost alone in its work. Traditional music is recorded badly in the region, packaged poorly (dull designs, little in the way of decent sleeve notes) and rarely marketed effectively. Thailand's classical group Fong Nam, with its Nimbus label recordings, is one of the few exceptions. Tao should try to forge a link with a label that specializes in traditional music, so that the important work of Sindao Banisil reaches a wider audience.

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