This was written by Rain Contreras in his blog at raincontreras.com:

Having just read the magazine articles on Narda’s official Multiply site, I decided to turn on to the older songs this Sunday morning at work from the band whose demise will be realized on April 12. That move proved to be apt for the moment, since as much as I consider their latest record, Discotillion, to be the group’s best effort, the old EP’s still spew delightful pop songs to bob your head to.

A re-invention must be the word the press wants to impress on the readers for Narda’s current mold. I won’t go into that anymore, since the articles (here and here) have expounded on it already; what struck me most were comparisons to their old sound to The Cardigans and The Sundays. I am impressed by older albums by the former, but Harriet Wheeler’s band (the latter) has, easily, nailed itself firmly on my perpetual favorite bands list. That said, having owned all of Narda’s early EP’s, I haven’t drawn a line connecting the Narda dot to any other known band, moreso their local contemporaries.

Let me start properly now: my curiosity for Narda stemmed from random Livejournal blog entries proclaiming how hawt the lead singer of this Ateneo-based band was, and that their records are available at Sarabia Optical, at the UP Shopping Center. One fateful afternoon at my old alma mater, lead to an evening on my computer when I dived unconsciously into unheard-of fanboy-ism.

Raw and pleasant were the acoustic songs from the Burador EP (2003), though that was my least played record from their discography. Not necessarily their weakest, since the ditties do meet happy campfire standards, with the sweet lovers’ song ‘Ang Gabi‘ leading the pack; but it was obvious that the Narda voice needs a lift to somewhere else, where she can be mighty.

Salaguinto’t Salagubang (September 2003) was an unabashed pinoy indie-rock record. I’ll hold this one as a good band primer, and the unfinished collection before the band’s first full-length album, Formika. Standouts were the rock radio hit ‘Jaywalker‘, and ‘Saan Na?‘. Easily catch the shoegazing, and low-fi influences here.

For my otherwise fickle palette, however, the A Postcard From (October 2002) and Suwerte (December 2002) EPs are the undeniable keepers, Narda’s first and second, respectively. ‘Suwerte‘ and ‘Tanga‘ from the Suwerte EP, and ‘Crime-Fighting Mama‘ and ‘Kusina‘ from the A Postcard From Narda EP, are must-listens to any serious fan of the band, as they should easily find their places to the list of the most wonderful pop gems to come out from the local post-90s indie music scene.

I’ve said this before, but I’d like to point it out again: Narda has transcended the practiced indie-pop standards that dominated the band scene around their EP and Formika days, when name-dropping X foreign band (Club 8? a forgotten New Wave band? a bossa-nova + electronic group from the once-formidable Siesta label?) was needed to claim prestige.

In sum, in true-fan fashion, I therefore conclude this post that a sound re-discovery should be in order, for this band that I’ve surprisingly grown to adore, and actually bother to write about and document through photos. Come on, its not time to sulk in a corner and lament on this; do that during their last gig, when its forgivable.

So, there it is. We hope to see you all this thursday at:

NARDAMAGEDDON: ang huling lipad ng narda
april 12 2007, thursday
cafe saguijo
9:30PM

guest performances by:
BOY ELROY
THE DORQUES
ISHI
SWITCH

and of course..

NARDA


We're playing songs, old and new, from the EPs, Formika and Discotillion. Narda merchandise will be on sale (everything must go).

The "Gasolina" music video will be launched as a token to everyone who supported Narda's music and passion.

We hope to see you on our last flight.

Start:	Apr 12, '07 11:00p
Location:	cafe saguijo

Hello everyone!

It's been a good five years since Katwo and I started the band with JV, Wincy, and Ed. And through those years, other people have shared their talent and love with us. People like Nico Af, Jing, Naz, Jep, Tani and all the rest have been part of the Narda family.

But all good things must pass.

So we invite you all to Narda's last gig on April 12 at Saguijo.

We will also launch the "Gasolina" music video as our token to
everyone who have supported our music and passion for the past half decade.

Thank you and we hope to see you on our last flight.

- Ryan of Narda

Start:	Mar 3, '07 11:00p
Location:	cafe saguijo

Ninja Kiss anniversary

Gates Open at Conspiracy

video courtesy of leatherlace

Gates Open at Conspiracy

Video by leatherlace

how are you all? This february is a busy month for us, so go out and come to the gigs! Chika chicka tayo!

February:

9 fri - st. scholastica marikina 830pm / up diliman carillion 10pm
12 mon - gerry's grill, tomas morato with the dawn
14 wed - la union at lorma college 8pm
15 thu - up fair with rivermaya, etc
16 fri - christ the king seminary 9pm (with hale, sandwich, itchyworms etc) /
big sky mind 1030 pm (with nyko maca + playground, out of body special,
sound)
17 sat - UST eng'g 7pm
21 wed - 6underground 10pm
23 fri - cafe saguijo 10pm / al's bar BF paranaque 1130pm with cambio
24 sat - magnet katipunan 10pm / cafe saguijo 1130pm with kjwan, dicta license etc


March

3 sat - cafe saguijo for ninja kiss anniversary
9 fri - big sky mind
10 sat - UP ecosoc
29 thu - cafe saguijo for sigaw ni maria clara


*For bookings and inquiries, contact Team Narda at 0916.37.90.454 or 0910.22.88.000 or e-mail teamnarda@gmail.com

Here's the gigsked for December:

2 sat - the loft, rockwell, makati for Rock ng Republika with pedicab, the dorques, chillitees, sound (if you guys are on MTV these days, there's a commercial on this gig, syempre Narda is namedropped to be wearing Fenina&Swee's wardrobe)
5 tue - UP Diliman lagoon for Elvis! (the annual good times gig in December)
7 thu - 6UG for the endofcontracts album launch with pedicab, radioactive sago project, switch and endofcontracts (this is the album launch of endo, discotillion's executive producer)
10 sun - MRT taft station for RockEd (four MRT stations will simultaneously have the country's best artists promote ROckEd's cause and their music)


Congrats to Katwo! Katwo tied for first place in the "Hottest Frontwoman in Pinoy Rock" poll in Pulse.ph. Exactly how hot? A peek in the December 2006 issue of FHM has a spread on Katwo. Get that and also get the latest issues of BURN (comes with an audio CD containing a demo version of Narda's 'Buti Nga' among others) and PULP magazines (shameless plugging =p ).


And lastly, we got news yesterday that Narda's 100 Taon is on the cusp of NU107's stairway to seven countdown. We need your help to get into the countdown. Pls text

VOTENU [space] 100TAON [send to 29107]

It'll be of great help if you text your votes every four hours (ie every DJ's shift, repeated votes in one shift may not be counted).

Start:	Oct 13, '06 01:00a
Location:	ateneo de manila grade school, Loyola Quezon City

with Dong Abay, The Out of Body Special, Chubibo, Sunflower Day Camp, Hansom, Woman is Fatal, Bit, Saving Ashley, Roots of Rage and The Bestidas!

Start:	Oct 27, '06 10:00p
Location:	Cafe Saguijo, Makati

Narda supports Day One Movement's album launch

Start:	Oct 20, '06 10:00p
Location:	Cafe Saguijo, Makati

Narda with Chillitees, Julliane, Updharma Down, etc.

Start:	Oct 20, '06 8:00p
Location:	Kublai's Katipunan

Narda with Erf etc