There are many mysteries in life. One of them is how Manila-based dream pop band Moon Mask, out with their second EP, isn’t more well-known. What started out as a project mostly from producer/vocalist Zeon Gomez (also of U-Pistol), the now-quartet consists of him, guitarist Felipe, bassist Dean Dela Cruz, and drummer Julio Del Prado.
After 2016’s ethereal Irreversible, Moon Mask returns with Relapse, a record for the broken-hearted, released last February 14 on American label Zoom Lens. The five tracks find Gomez revisiting past pains and things left unsaid.
The experience kicks off with “Boulevard,” a danceable club-ready song to take you driving alone at night, lost in heaviness and confusion. You try to forget the hurt from a failed relationship, only to be reminded of how much you miss that special someone. No matter what happens, decisions have been made, and there’s no going back.
The EP then moves to “Enough,” another song about tragedy, serving as an anthem for the outcasts. The synth-infused piece explores feelings of inadequacy and the frustration arising from wanting something to work, to no avail. The cathartic four minutes is an emotional masterpiece destined to fill arenas with people singing at the top of their lungs.
Up next is “Promenade,” a beautifully hazy tune transporting you to younger years—a school dance; a falling apart. Everything is in place at that moment, but things don’t last forever. All magic is lost when confrontation ensues, and no matter how much you’ve loved, it’s time to let go.
“Risa” is an instant favorite—an amazing reworking of a song that previously appeared on the FAKKU/Zoom Lens compilation, Metempsychosis. The EP’s shoegaze influences shine most here, particularly in the chorus where the Loveless-esque mosh-ready guitar enters, playing alongside a synth hook befitting of Copeland’s Eat, Sleep, Repeat era. Of all five tracks, this is the most positive—not that it’s possible from an EP called Relapse. Still, the heightened emotions are evident, albeit in the midst of forbidden love.
The EP closes with “Daytime Boyfriend,” a song you might recognize from the ending of the “Boulevard” music video. Thematically, the track summarizes everything said on Relapse, from feelings to words—”I can’t play the part; I have the weakest heart.” The ballad is enough to make your heart clench, akin to music like Michael Jackson’s “She’s out of My Life.” The short but sweet duration of the song will have you playing it over and over.
Nostalgic, despondent, and relatable, Relapse is a soaring breakdown you don’t want to miss. The band’s latest has just been released, and already we can’t wait for what’s next. Listen to the EP in its entirety below, and be sure to catch them at their next gig.
Words by Kurvine Chua.