Independent label Other People’s Music Records has released UMPAK!: Rare Grooves from the Philippines (1974–1980), a compilation of funk, disco, and instrumental tracks that dives deep into the overlooked archives of Manila Sound from the 1970s. Where there are songs often left off streaming platforms or buried in out-of-print vinyl bins. UMPAK! brings together a crate-digger’s dream of unearthed recordings where each track selected to reflect a scene that operated at the intersection of American funk, homegrown soul, and the complexities of a postcolonial Filipino identity.
The record acts as a musical backbone consisting of tight rhythm sections, brass arrangements that snap with precision, and Tagalog melodies layered with groove is evidence of a generation of artists who thrived despite the constraints of martial law and a music industry saturated with foreign imports.
Cuts like “Umpukan” by The Advisors, Eva Eugenio’s smoky instrumental “Ang Tangi Kong Pagibig,” and Now Batukada’s stripped-down yet striking take on “Dahil sa Isang Bulaklak” offer more than retro appeal. These are recordings with presence, songs that thump and instrumentals that glide with intent.
Compiled with liner notes from KBS Radio veteran Ernesto Angeles, the release doubles as a primer on an era largely undocumented and rarely celebrated outside niche collectors’ circles. But UMPAK! is not just a collection of rarities. It’s a corrective. The record highlights a cultural moment when Filipino musicians, working against the grain, created something distinct. A genre born from imported influences but recast through a local lens.
UMPAK! is now available on vinyl through Other People’s Music Records’ Instagram page.
