Zsa Zsa Padilla - Ikaw Lamang

All Music Guide

Zsa Zsa Padilla released her second album Ikaw Lamang (Only You) in 1986, her first for local independent Vicor Music Group, having left Telesis after one album. Where the first album consisted of interesting, even challenging music, Ikaw Lamang is dominated by easy-listening love songs. As such, the album is mostly a let-down. Some of the music tries to be sophisticated, but it isn't very appealing. Padilla possesses an excellent voice, which shined on the first album. Her voice also shines here, but the unsatisfying material doesn't allow it to fully bloom. Even the songs that try to be distinctive sound disordered. For example, the dance-inflected "Mambobola" (Teaser) aims for a high creative plateau, but the song is disorientating and not very fulfilling. Another aimless song is "Hanggang Kailan" (Up to When), which consists of several musical directions linked together. Unfortunately, the sum of the parts is less than the whole. The song contains hard-edged electric guitar and sev...eral tempo changes, one of which works off an eerie, jagged rhythm. However, the song sounds directionless. Padilla sings several easy-listening love songs here, some of which aim to sound sophisticated, including "Minsan Pa" (Once More) and "Sa Bawat Sandali" (In Every Moment). Ultimately, the songs are nothing special, despite Padilla's fine voice. Perhaps her new record company intentionally made her record less adventurous material than before and more songs in an attempt to reach more Filipinos, who adore love songs, but the album is far less satisfying than her first release. - David Gonzales, All Music Guide Read more Less