Ethnic Faces

New Wave 1986 - 1987 Recordings

Side A
Within Tribes
Back Home

Love

Golden Boy

Side B

Balikbayan

Clean Wholesome Fun

From Now On

Balikbayan

Ethnic Faces was a offshoot of two very bands - Ocean Zoo and Lost Boys- in the midst of the  punk scene of the early 80's. Playing new wave before anyone else ever did in concert right after frantic sets of punk bands Ethnic faces established its own set of followers. They were also the only foolish enough to play originals even when nobody ever heard of them before. Live lead singer Jack Sikat had been the perfect front man - painting his face, bringing a gong on stage , slamming with guitar player on stage and wearing his trademark salakot. the bands essence was a heavy mix of their new wave interest, Pinoy humor and political activism. their contemporaries include Ironic Trauma (founded by Teddy Diaz before he did the DAWN), College, led by Arnold Morales (who later formed Put3Ska), identity Crisis, Deans December ( led by Binky Lamapano) and other who got air play at XB 102.7 But there are people who only got who simply refuse to acknowledge

Ethnic Faces contribution to the music scene leaving them out of any historical accounts of Pinoy Music Still Ethnic Faces song are featured in various compilation album like Brave new world - live from 1984(love and within tribes )1986 subterrainia romance vol. 1 (with original version of Golden Boy ) 10 of another kind from 1989 ( balik bayan and another version of golden Boy) Dear Cory 1990 ( Brutal Scars) and LA Rock in 1995 (Parang Bowling)

Later the famed indie producer (and now LA 105 exec) Ed Formoso approached them to record a full length album for the first time in years. The result DEKADA in 1995. Manny Pagsuyuin also a formerly with Ironic Trauma and now a DJ (jimmy jam to DWLS-FM 97.1 listeners)

wrote in the album liners notes "The Faces were alternative long before it was called as such"

the Faces "comeback album of sorts showed the musicians side in their topmost form as there influences broadened with age leaning toward soul and acid jazz long before people started hailing the arrival of "retro fever" by silly covers bands. Philippine based American journalist David Gonzales praised the band musicianship in his review published at the Manila Times fascinated that a local band could be this adventurous ((suicidal I would say) He even noted the superb horn arrandgement mistaking it for the work of actual horn section ( he was shocked to find that the sound was coaxed out of the sound module as arranged by the band keyboardist)The problem was Jack heart wasn't in it any more. After years of playing and contributing to compilation for him the magic was gone and this was just one of the things that had to be done. It was unfortunate because these people are talented musicians who are in some way still respected by their peers even as younger musicians remain clueless.

Ethnic faces was gone as soon as they had come back they've paid for stubbornly refusing to give in to the pressures of mainstream appeal...and for always being way ahead of their time.

-pleasant things