“Summertown,” is a continuation of “Prodigals,” released in 2016. This new single continues the story of the boy who left home. After spending many days in Summertown, he becomes disillusioned with the once beautiful place. With all his money spent and happiness gone, the boy heads home, bracing himself for shame and fear.

What meets him at the end of his journey is someone he never expected, offering him something he never asked for: a father who welcomes him with open arms, offering him a new life free from shame and fear.

This parable of the Prodigal Son has always resonated with us since we started recording songs. To continue the story through song and give it a proper conclusion is the best way to celebrate our 6th-going-7th year as a band.

Lyrics:

I remember walking down south from Summertown
The times were a-changin' the leaves were about to decay
Turns out the season that I loved the most was the one that didn't last too long
And I was headed home again

'Cause if I saw your face for a second time
I'd be afraid

'Cause I put too much weight
On my fragile back
You spent too much gold
Just to fix these cracks

You held on to these hands
And you took me home
You've done your part
Now I'll do my own

I remember locking myself in the room of your house
Too young to leave, but too old to feel ok
Turns out the feeling that I felt in the first place didn't even last too long
And I was all alone again

Oh if I saw your face for a third time
I'd rather die

'Cause I put too much weight
On my fragile back
You spent too much gold
Just to fix these cracks

You held on to these hands
And you took me home
You've done your part
Now I'll do my own

'Cause I put too much weight
On my fragile back
You spent too much gold
Just to fix these cracks

You held on to these hands
And you took me home
You've done your part
Now I'll do my own

There's no need to feel ashamed
No need to be afraid

Written by Benny Manaligod
Arranged by The Ridleys

Vocals & Acoustic Guitar - @Benny Manaligod
Electric Guitar & Electric Guitar - J@an De Vera
Bass - @Joric Canlas
Drums - @Bryant Ayes

Recorded by @Nikhil Amarnani at @Line In Records #EngineeredByNik #RecordedAtLineIn
Mixed and Mastered by @Alex Villegas

Summertown

06 Summertown (or ‘Kintsugi’)

Until I Reach the Sun - Vol. 1 is the first part of a longer album. This collection of songs, written from 2012-2021 contains three, maybe four different stories. It begins with the story of a teenage boy who tries to make sense of life (It All Makes Sense, 2012). Then, it tells the story of a curious Icarus who burned himself by flying too close to the sun (When a Man Touches the Sun, 2012).  It also tells the story of an Alice-type figure who retreats into her dream world to escape her bleak reality (Wonderland, 2014).

The most notable of these stories is that of the prodigal son (Prodigal’s Anthem, 2015, and all the songs that follow, 2017-2021). The prodigal son left home thinking he was ready to face the world, only to find himself miserable and alone. But at the end of the journey, he was greeted with a warm embrace from the father he ran away from. His ending is one that we hope all the other characters experience, too. Their stories will be continued in Vol. 2.

These stories are meant for you, dear listener. We hope that the last one — the one about the prodigal son — would give you hope that that suffering can end in comfort, and isolation can lead us closer to presence.

There are many, many, many more songs in the vault. For now, we give you these seven. Thank you for listening to the stories we tell through songs.

From morning light/’til break of dawn,
The Ridleys

07 Return

05 Home

04 Prodigal’s Anthem (or ‘The Gods We Hold Dear’)

03 Wonderland

02 When A Man Touches The Sun

01 It All Makes Sense

Edge Of Desire (live cover)

Our first track!

Benjamin Manaligod - Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
Jan De Vera - Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
Joric Canlas - Bass
Bryant Ayes - Drums

-

Lyrics:
I hear them calling
They're calling out to me
They tell me freedom is here
Yeah freedom's finally here

And all the while rain is falling
Just like notes on a symphony
They tell me not to feel fear
'Cause freedom's finally here

'Take one bite to take the fall
We'll be right next to you through it all
With these words I saw
With these words I saw

I once was caged but now I'm free
And I don't really wanna go home
I once was blind but now I see
And I don't really wanna go home
I've paid the price, I know the cost
Don't preach to me, I know I'm lost
And if my father calls for me
Tell him I don't really wanna go, don't really wanna home

Tell me again
What's it like on the other side
Are you still living in fear?
Are you still living in fear?
Aren't we all just human
We turn to dust when we die
Sacrifice every year
To please the gods we hold dear

'Take one bite to take the fall
We'll be right next to you through it all
With these words I saw
With these words I saw

I once was caged but now I'm free
And I don't really wanna go home
I  once was blind but now I see
And I don't really wanna go home
I've paid the price, I know the cost
Don't preach to me, I know I'm lost
And if my father calls for me
Tell him I don't really wanna go, don't really wanna go home

No I don't wanna go back to where I couldn't run
Do you see me now? I've only just begun
I won't stop to lay my head
Until I've reached the sun
No I don't wanna go back to where I couldn't run

-

Produced by Kian Ransom
Lyrics by Benjamin Manaligod



Prodigals

These are original songs recorded right after they were written. :)

Rorschach Blots (prototype)

These are original songs recorded right after they were written. :)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Let’s lay in the fields of green
Tell each other things we really mean
All the places we have been
Are nothing compared to this

Tell me all about your dreams
All the things that you could be
The future we haven’t seen
Is nothing compared to this

I know it’s all uncertain
And I know these things take time
So you and I will climb that mountain
And see what’s on the other side

Let’s lay in the fields of green
Tell each other things we really mean
All our favourite movie scenes
Are nothing compared to this

I’ll tell you all about my
All the things that I could be
The future we haven’t seen
Is nothing compared to this

I know it’s all uncertain
And I know these things take time
So you and I will climb that mountain
And see what’s on the other side

I know it’s all uncertain
I know we’re both unsure
But if we part ways, at least this mountain saw
That you were mine, and I was yours


Mountain Eyes (prototype)

Here's a teaser of our track Aphrodite. We'll be releasing it in a day or two. Stay tuned!

Aphrodite (Teaser)

Our first EP! Special thanks to Kian Ransom for making this EP possible. :) Check out his band, The Ransom Collective: https://soundcloud.com/theransomcollective

To support our music, you can buy this EP on Bandcamp for $3.99. Just click

Vocals & Acoustic Guitar - Benny Manaligod
Back-up Vocals & Lead Guitar - Jan De Vera
Drums & Percussions - Bryant Ayes
Bass - Joric Canlas

All songs written by Benny Manaligod
All songs arranged by Benny Manaligod, Jan De Vera, and Bryant Ayes
All songs recorded and produced by Kian Ransom

Aphrodite EP

Aphrodite

04 Aphrodite

Maybe

03 Maybe

Yvaine

02 Yvaine

01 Prodigals

Lyrics:
Tell me where your treasure is
Tell me, what does your heart miss?
Tell me of the men you've kissed
In this city made of mist

Tell me of your search for truth
Through the lens of foolish youth
Tell me what you had to lose
In this life we did not choose

There's much to say
These sunken eyes won't stay awake for long
But I will stay
From morning light until the break of dawn

Raconteur (raw)

A teaser of Meaningful Silence which will be released this June 3, 2017!! This will also be part of the upcoming EP, From Morning Light/Till Break of Dawn.

Recorded and mixed by Paolo Vivas of Raketship Project Studio
Track art by Therese Jose

Meaningful Silence Teaser

Meaingful Silence will be included in our upcoming EP, "From Morning Light/Till Break of Dawn", which will be released on Sept. 8, 2017.

Lyrics:
Don't worry 
About the things that have been bothering you for so long 
Don't worry 
About all of the ways this could go wrong 

Just tell me how you really feel 
You don't have to pretend when you're with me 
'Cause in the end 
I'm still your friend 

You told me 
You're afraid that I would get hurt 
Well don't you worry 
I'm not asking for much, you have my word 

Tell me how you really feel 
You don't have to pretend when you're with me 
'Cause in the end 
I'm still your friend 

And when you see that we were meant to be all along 
When it's all clear 
I will be here 
Singing our song

credits:
releases June 3, 2017 
Lyrics by Benny Manaligod 
Arrangement by The Ridleys 
Artwork by Therese Jose 
Lead Vocals/Acoustic Guitar - Benny Manaligod 
Second Vocals/Electric Guitar - Jan De Vera 
Bass - Joric Canlas 
Drums - Bryant Ayes 
Recorded at Raketship Project Studio 
Recorded and mixed by Paolo Vivas

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThBRAMrvxUo

Meaningful Silence (Our Song)

Benny:
Have mercy on me, O God
According to Your unfailing love
I was a sinner at birth
To whom You gave wisdom that comes from above
Don't cast me out I have nowhere to go
Cleanse me and I will be whiter than snow
You ask for my life so I'll give it
Though this grief has torn me apart
Take my broken spirit
Take my broken heart

Sofia:
[Read the poem here https://hellopoetry.com/poem/1097398/the-state-of-my-heart-as-seasons-change-other-letters-dear-future-husband/ ]

Benny and Sofia:
You ask for my life so I'll give it
Though this grief has torn me apart
Take my broken spirit
Take my broken heart
You ask for my praise so I'll give it
I'm coming back to the start
Take my broken spirit
Take my broken heart

Broken/The State of my Heart as Seasons (The Ridleys x Sofia Paderes)

Telling stories through songs.
A band composed of Benny Manaligod (songwriter, vocals, acoustic guitar), Jan De Vera (backup vocals, lead guitarist), Joric Canlas (bass), and Bryant Ayes (drums, percussion)

The Ridleys

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