“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

03 Wonderland

02 When A Man Touches The Sun

01 It All Makes Sense

Composed by Iego Tan
Produced by Emmanuel Aguila @eanaguila of Eelectric Eel Studios @eelectric-eel-studio
Art by Ches Gatpayat http://chesgatpayat.tumblr.com

Waltz Of Four Left Feet

Smooth Sailing

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

Maybe

03 Maybe

Prodigals

01 Prodigals

Timog at Hilaga

Verse 1:
Nandun pa rin
Litrato mo sa wallet ko
Na tinitingnan ko 
Kapag ako ay nalulungkot

Verse 2:
Sabay tanong sa sarili kung
Ilang milya ba
Ang meron sa
Pagitan ng timog at hilaga?

Pre-chorus:
Walang magbabago
Sumpa ko sa langit at sa'yo

Chorus:
Ang puso ko 
Gaano man kalayo o
Katagal maghintay
Ay babalik sa'yo

Verse 3:
Sumikat na naman ang araw
Kailan ka ba ulit maaaninaw
Sabik sa'yong yakap na nakakatunaw

Pre-chorus
Chorus

Timog At Hilaga

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)

Any Name's Okay - Clouds

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)

01 It All Makes Sense

The Ridleys

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