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EP REVIEW: KremeSoda - Out of Range


College bands today are looking to push the envelope along with their influences that made them who they are. Starting out young is a great way to jumpstart your experience as a musician and rest assured it'll get you somewhere if you let yourself be immersed in whatever scene you choose to be in. There are tons of young bands that are based in the Katipunan area, or at least, are studying around in universities that are in that area. Some might mention that venues like Route 196 and Exile on Main Street were places where younger bands tried out if their music is up to par with other people's style at the time.

Kremesoda is this young and up-and-coming band coming from Ateneo De Manila, and saying their name out loud will get you a slight idea of what their music sounds like. I guess it'll either leave a sweet, or bitter feeling, or it might also have poppy feel to it, who knows? All i ever heard from this band was they announced their début EP titled "Out of Range" launched two months ago. Hearing about this EP through the internet, I sat down on my living room table and gave this a listen to see if this band has any potential.

So far, their first track titled "Skywatcher" was pretty decent in terms of production and songwriting. My only problem here is that from the very first second i listened to this EP, their sound is pretty derivative from other bands like San Cisco, or even The Last Dinosaurs. Guitars sounded neat, riffs were going along the melody as their lead singer does the standard Ransom Collective-esque 'whoas'. It's a great track to start this EP.

"Talk" has this youthful feel to it where the lyrics leaves an impression of young love. The typical songwriting i would expect from the first track. "Shotglass" literally sounds like Vampire Weekend except the melody strangely resembles "Way Back Into Love" from the Music & Lyrics soundtrack. But it took me 5 minutes to look for a chorus? where is it? The acoustic intro then turns into a build up of instruments where it leads up to a plateau of nothingness where the songwriting is starting to have no gain or benefit from this band whatsoever.

"Bad Words (Sorry)" was delicate with its songwriting. Again, one of the band's strengths. But the track stops abruptly without feeling that the song hasn't reached to the point where you've fully absorbed its potential. Where is the chorus here again?

"Open Space" is the last track of this EP but it doesn't feel like it closes the project. Like nearly every track here doesn't sound like it's going to end. Not one song here so far just felt like its finished where instead it repeats the same uninspiring song structure. Not to mention, they kinda sound like what She's Only Sixteen did a year ago with their album Whatever That Was.

Overall, Out Of Range nearly hits home with its pastel-colored, polished tunes but the enjoyability in its sound is lagging along in the way as it reaches near the end. As the title of the EP stands, it does stay faithful to its sound but you sometimes wonder where you say to yourself "is this it?" or painfully you say "this is so average".

Some others might call it wasted potential but i guess we shouldn't call it too soon because this EP still proves that this band will still hit the bullseye later in their career as young musicians. Leading up this tell where Kremesoda need to slightly do some fixing in their sound.

The Out of Range EP has displayed impressive technical skill in writing a prim and proper sound that kids in this age would appreciate so much. But that doesn't automatically mean that this EP will leave you an insightful nor a memorable listen in the long run. Kremesoda is a band that is intended to make bubblegum indie-rock last and eventually be popped and thrown out in the bin after chewing on it after a few listens

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