The Strange Filipino Album About Ancient Aliens
Pedicab’s Enigmatic “Remuda Triangle” is a subject of fascination.
It was 2017, 5 years ago, when the group dubbed “Manila’s Most Dangerous Band” last ascended with another record.
You see, Pedicab first started as a quick side project in 2005, by Diego Mapa of Eggboy and Monsterbot fame, Raimund Marasigan of Eraserheads and Sandwich, and Twisted Halo guitarist Jason Caballa.
Not long after, they added director and the band’s visuals manager RA Rivera, and Teeth Drummer Mike Dizon.
What set them apart in the Filipino scene is their embrace of dance-punk and electronica, reminiscent of stateside contemporaries, LCD Soundsystem.
Even with all their outlier reputation, everyone knows the band is just having fun; dawning kitschy personas under different pseudonyms, quirky electronic sound, and writing comedic lyrics throughout their discography.
Frontman Diego Mapa is obsessed with the History TV series Ancient Aliens, which was about presenting ancient artifacts as (possibly) evidence of aliens.
This was often a conversation starter for the band, often a subject of their fascination. They even suggested making an album about aliens as a joke.
In 2014, the band went to play for the P Fest UK: a Filipino music festival in London. The band got to visit Stonehenge, a popular subject of Ancient Aliens conspiracies.
Suddenly, it wasn’t a joke anymore, the band is actually committed to writing an album about aliens.
The resulting album was Remuda Triangle, named after their recording studio in Marikina. What did it sound like?
The band, known for having fun with their quirky rock sound, suddenly saw themselves go further into conceptual dance punk.
Remuda Triangle sounds enigmatic, alienating, and addicting. It sounds accessible yet it sounded so abnormal and off-putting.
Remuda Triangle had a grungier edge than previous releases, and had a hypnotizing complexion you can’t find anywhere else.
The whole album was a homage to not only Ancient Aliens, but each band member’s inner music and comic book geek.
Yet with all the discourse surrounding Remuda Triangle, very few people talk about its overarching narrative. Yes, it has a story.
This full-on exploration is also a well-rounded first-person narrative of alien abduction, love, science fiction, and denial.
Track 1: Walang Maramdaman
It all starts with an alien abduction.
Our narrator (Let’s name him Juan), got sucked up by an unknown spaceship.
Inside the spaceship, he’s been ripped apart and examined, so much so, that he felt numb the whole time. Juan felt nothing.
That same night, he woke up in a completely different place (mentioned as Kaliraya). But where was he from? He forgot, and we’ll never know.
Walang Maramdaman, translated as “I Feel Nothing,” is a very stellar opener that perfectly encapsulates the album’s otherworldly tone.
Isang araw, Naglalakad sa labas
Tinamaan ng ilaw, Mula sa itaas(Translated)
“One day, I was walking outside
Struck by the light, from up above”
Track 2: Alipin
Juan discovers a big secret : aliens have been around the world for milennia.
In true Ancient Aliens fashion, they’re behind every world advancement: from the Pyramids, to farming, chemicals, even civilization itself.
Translated as “Slave,” it details the first-person story of a human being enslaved by the aliens, the hyper anthemic nature of this single has a pretty sick guitar solo if you ask me.
Ginawang alipin, nagbuhat ng bato
Gumawa ng palasyo, nilatigo
Nagkatawang tao, may ulo ng kabayo
O Diyos ko, utusan mo ako(Translated)
Made into a slave, carried stones
Made palaces, and were whipped
Turned into a human, a head of a horse
Oh lord, command me
Track 3: Mercury Retrograde
The clashy spacey nature of this single continues to the hypnotizing Mercury Retrograde. The latter details the history of what happened after the aliens visited and since then.
The song is named after a phenomenon where the planet Mercury looks like it travels backwards across the sky. This phenomenon is feared by astrologists.
Pyramids are rising, animals are talking
The president has an underground base
Unidentified object, sucking time warp
Trapped in circles in the electric field
Track 4: What’s the Algorithm?
What’s the Algorithm, based on Diego Mapa’s comments regarding the song, might portray a different story. Or does it?
The song tells the story of aliens choosing the chosen one, who might as well be Juan.
Once Juan got the aliens’ memo, he’s heard wondering to himself:
“Why me? What’s the Algorithm?” rings like “What criteria did the aliens choose to make me the chosen one?”
This is also the album’s lead single, an electrifying first impression to one of The Filipino scene’s underrated gems.
I got your letter and the ray gun
It said it read, “You’re the chosen one
Pack your bags, get out of town
Don’t say goodbye. Leave without a sound”
Track 5: Brainwash
The unraveling of Juan’s relationship with the aliens goes on in Brainwash, where more aliens crash on the Earth’s surface,
People panicked, and later on, after a call with his mother, Juan’s mom suggests that he’s not “from here.”
The track itself is unintelligible, Diego Mapa’s lowkey vocals shrouded by industrial-like synths and effects, complimented in the end by a minute-long infectious drum beat.
“Hala, ‘yan na, parating na sila”
Galing ibang planeta
Tinawagan ang nanay mo
“Anak, aaminin ko na ‘di ka taga dito”(Translated)
“Oh no! There it is, they’re coming”
From another planet
Called your mom
“Child, I’ll admit you’re not from here”
Track 6: Meet Your Right
A play on the word Meteorite, this song starts the album’s love arc, or whatnot.
Juan falls in love with a girl from outer space; an alien if you will.
The song itself doesn’t talk about falling in love, like Bodjie Dasig’s Ale for example. Instead, it chronicles Juan’s jealousy because the girl kept talking about other guys from other galaxies.
The thumping melodic bassline sounds quite funky but it fits so well in the album, and in particular, the song’s lonely spacey feel.
You keep telling me about this other guy
You keep bringing the idea of him
Just to push me away
So I won’t get serious
Track 7: Soul Riot
After Juan’s letdown mood, he coped with everything going on so far; the aliens, the future, being the chosen one, I mean everything.
Juan eventually gains confidence to confront his problems, with some pretty… rudimentary lyricism.
’Cause you are who you really are
There’s nothing wrong about
You being you are
’Cause that’s what you are
Hearing this on Wish 107.5 must’ve been very odd.
Track 8: Virgo Dragon
Calling someone a Virgo Dragon, according to astrology, means that they are charismatic, intelligent, and attractive.
Juan might as well could be referring to her alien love interest, as he hints in the song.
Virgo dragon, She knows
’Cause she’s a Virgo dragonShe knows exactly what she wants
She knows exactly what she wants
She knows exactly what she wants
She knows exactly what she wants
Another interpretation I have is that this is the aliens inspecting Juan’s emotions, which could explain the monotone delivery:
A realist, abundant with confidence
Not highly sociable, but enjoyed close relationships
Intelligent, very charismatic
Toyed with love at their youth
Maybe it’s Juan inspecting the girl’s traits?
But nonetheless, Virgo Dragon is my favorite in the whole album, defined by the triumphant guitar riff, the larger-than-life synths. Oh wow!
Track 9: Star Jelly
And finally, the aliens invade.
Star Jelly is where we witness the alien invasion. An all-out attack ensues, where the aliens declare that the humans got what they want, all while deploying their powerful army.
Star Jelly could be referring to the aliens‘ gelatinous bodies, just like the real life star jelly.
This abrasive deep cut is also the longest track in the whole record.
You’ve got what I want
Dispatch the Space brigade
You’ve got what I want
Deliver the renegade
Track 10: Sending Out A Signal
Though eventually, the alien invasion ends as the aliens have left the Earth.
Though many would feel relieved by it, Juan in particular, wasn’t.
Why? ’Cause he’ll never see the Virgo Dragon he feel in love with ever again.
The track was set years and years after the invasion, as Juan kept sending her a signal to find her, always to no avail.
He never saw her again.
“It’s so nice that we’re a Pinoy band talking about science fiction.” said Diego Mapa in an interview with CTZN.
To close, Remuda Triangle is an ode to Pedicab’s fascination with aliens, but even the album itself is intriguing on its own, and the underlying story is even more worth talking.
Take note that not all song stories are explicitly explained by the band, some of it is my own interpretation.
When asked on Rakista Radio if the band actually believed in Aliens, Diego Mapa said “No.”
However, as this album breakdown got posted on Instagram, Diego Mapa and the whole band corrected this statement, saying that they believe we’re not alone. 👽🛸
This is an extended version of the album breakdown on my Instagram: The Left Ear with Lee. Be sure to follow me on Medium and on Instagram. Thanks!
