Biography
Drawing its name from a track by the Cocteau Twins, the dream-pop trailblazers, Sugar Hiccup immediately signals its sonic direction. Angelic, high-pitched female vocals float above shimmering, atmospheric guitars in much the same manner as that influential Scottish group. The quartet came together in Manila, Philippines, in 1994, uniting Melody del Mundo on vocals and lead guitars, Czandro Pollack on rhythm guitars, Russel Dacasin on bass, and Mervin Panganiban on drums. Their debut album, Oracle, appeared the following year via BMG Records Pilipinas. Philippine mainstream outlets at first shied away from the record’s opening single, “Five Years,” whose cryptic, mournful vocals, pounding percussion, and somber guitar lines found an early home in the capital’s underground circles before reaching a broader audience. The album ultimately moved more than 20,000 units. In 1996 Oracle received the Best Alternative Recording honor at the Awit Awards—the Philippine counterpart to the Grammys—while “Five Years” earned Best Alternative Song and Best Alternative Performance from the songwriters’ group KATHA. Two years later the band issued its sophomore effort, Womb, which drew widespread critical praise.
Albums
