The chorus was infectious – ‘NME – NME – NME – NME. New Move for Error…’ – again and again.
The song ‘New Move for Error’ caused a stir in the burgeoning underground music scene when legendary DJ Howlin’ Dave of rock station DZRJ played that song from the punk band Third World Chaos in 1984.
Punk rock and New Wave gained a beachhead on Philippine shores, and local music would never be the same again.
Following the first-ever independent release of New Wave band Ocean Zoo’s Animal Party extended play single in 1983, punk band Chaos followed with a seven-inch release of ‘Quitter’ and ‘We Are the One’ (RCA Victor) a few months later. The single was produced by Tony Huelves, in-house producer for Vicor Music Corp. and its labels, Sunshine and Blackgold. At the time, Vicor was also the local distributor of RCA Records.
Then, in 1984, this time renamed as Third World Chaos, the four-piece crew of the late Potit Mangali on vocals, Tommy Tanchanco on guitars and backing vocals, Manny Pascual on bass and backing vocals, and Dino ‘Fer’ Solver on drums put out their only album, New Move for Error’ (distributed by Dyna Records).
‘The records were distributed through major labels, but they didn’t push or even promote them,’ recalled Pascual. ‘It was very disappointing. That is why we went to them in the first place.’
The records didn’t appear in most record stores at that time. One only knew of their availability if one went to punk gigs or listened to DZRJ or read Jingle Chordbook magazine, which extensively covered the then-burgeoning punk scene.
Somehow, all the copies sold out by word of mouth. And today, both the seven-inch single and the original long-playing album are some of the most coveted Holy Grails in Filipino music. If one does find an original copy in the market, whether in near-mint or in poor condition, it sells for anywhere from Php 8000 to Php 15000 and more. Even the European bootlegs fetch a huge sum because of the absence of original copies.
Thankfully, both have been rereleased for old and new fans by German underground label Merciless Records without having to break the bank.
Aside from ‘We Are The One’ and ‘Quitter,’ the New Move For Error album produced by Chaos and Howlin’ Dave features fan-favorite tracks like ‘Rebel Rockers,’ ‘You Won’t Anymore,’ ‘Insult The Useless People,’ and the anthemic title track. The LP version also comes with deluxe packaging that consists of a transparent vinyl, a recreated gig poster, as well as inserts featuring an old magazine interview in the underground magazine Herald X, and a lyric sheet. The album jacket also sports an obi strip.
‘I lost my copies a long time ago, and to have reissued versions is like a gift to all of us decades later,’ added Pascual. ‘It is something we can also share with our families as well as fans. We hope new listeners will like our music.’
The Chaos single and New Move for Error are the latest releases from Merciless Records, which previously released Dead Ends’ first three studio albums – Complaints, Second Coming, and Damned Nation – individually and in pizza-box-style sets. Then last year, the German label reissued Dead Ends’ contemporary, Deceased’s Never Rest in Peace.
‘The Philippines has a rich punk rock history,’ noted Joern Thoendel, who owns Merciless Records. ‘With punk a global movement, we feel that it is also a good time to introduce Filipino punk to a European and global audience.’
Copies of Third World Chaos’ New Move for Error and the seven-inch single can be purchased locally through Mutilated Noise Records on Facebook or through Merciless Records’ Bandcamp page.