SinoSikat?’s Kat Agarrado previews new single, video

There seems to be a nascent neo-soul scene in Manila, and that sounds infinitely better to us than neo-nazism. Better hair styles, too! At the forefront of this neo-soul movement are SinoSikat? and Yosha.

Of course, as should be obvious, at the helm of SinoSikat? is the spellbinding Kat Agarrado.

Earlier this month in Legaspi Village’s A-Space Art Gallery, amid a coterie of fans, well-wishers and fellow musicians, Kat and her producer Paolo Garcia presented the preview for her new single, "Ikaw Ba," and its requisite accompanying video.

"Ikaw Ba" was written by Agarrado, Garcia and guitarist Noli Aurillo.

The first dilemma which confronts a listener is what to call this kind of music.

Smaller minds might be tempted to call this jazz, but smaller minds would be wrong.

Noli himself calls this tune polka-folk, but while the term is germane to this tune’s playful, lilting groove, it doesn’t begin to describe the song’s otherworldly harmonies.

To encapsulate the sound of the song’s chords, this writer suggests the term patchouli chords. You know how listening to Joni Mitchell’s 70’s stuff somehow brings to mind the scent of patchouli? Of course you do. So now you have some idea of what "Ikaw Ba" sounds like, not to mention how to dress for the occasion.

So, to wit—imagine a spiraling patch of patchouli chords set to a quasi-polka groove in a zeitgeist of Joni Mitchell-esque folk, and you have a fair idea of where Kat is at, musically.

Now realize that before partaking of Kat’s latest obra, one must first sample the luscious hors d'oeuvres—opening acts Aurillo, guitarist Butch Rojas, keyboard wunderkinden Ryan Villamor and his confreres, and UST string quartet Nueno Classico—and one feels somewhat better about shelling out a few bucks for a gourmet meal courtesy of caterer extraordinaire Chef’s Hat.

The free Don Pepe Rhum-based drinks also helped.

Noli and Butch played a set each of solo guitar before handing off to Ryan and his band, who essayed a few of the keyboardist’s avante-jazz compositions.

The string quartet then took over, playing "Di Kita Malimot" and an instrumental version of Up Dharma Down’s "Tadhana."

Then the audience was treated to a show by the scantily-clad femmes of BurlesquePH. In various states of dishabille, these ladies put on a show that was spicy and rather risque, but decent enough for the shalla crowd in attendance.

Then Kat herself took center stage to sing her new single, "Ikaw Ba."

Judging by the audence’s swaying heads and grooving behinds, the single was a hit with the crowd.

Kat then showed the music video, and we were struck by how comely she is as a new mommy.

The audience suitably blown away, Kat then sang a few more original tunes, standout among which was the playfully tongue-in-cheek "Sabado."

Unless we’ve become preposterously bereft of all our senses, it’s rather obvious that "Ikaw Ba" is just the first taste of an upcoming Kat Agarrado solo album.

Take that as you will, it’s good news any way you look at it.

To hear Kat—solo or with SinoSikat?—is to love her. That’s about as close to gospel as it gets. — BM, GMA News