Unique Salonga’s departure from disco-funk quartet IV of Spades came as a surprise to many fans. The aforementioned group was at the peak of their popularity after releasing hit after hit, including the likes of Hey, Barbara (2017) and Mundo (2018), after all.

However, the sound of Salonga’s solo debut album entitled Grandma has made it clear as to why UNIQUE (as he now prefers to be called) chose to go his own way.

In Grandma, UNIQUE takes on a new sound that is very different from his days as the vocalist of IV of Spades. The album title is fitting as it perfectly encapsulates UNIQUE’s persona as an old soul—gone are the hyper-danceable tunes of his former band, and in its wake are mystifying and atmospheric songs that evoke darker and more mature themes.

UNIQUE’s versatility shines through with each of the 12 songs in this album. Each track makes use of his enthralling voice and his penchant for poignant lyricism to provide something vastly different from the other. This is especially noticeable when he shifts from genre to genre as the album progresses. Standouts include OZONE (Itulak ang Pinto), where he flexes his storytelling skills as he provides a chilling retelling of the 1996 Ozone Disco Club fire. The song’s gloomy message is juxtaposed by a rather upbeat production. Goodnight Prayer is another song that showcases his songwriting prowess. He paints a picture of a defeated man in desperate prayer—the depressing lyrics coupled with his melancholic vocals is nothing short of unsettling. Lastly, Paalala: offers a dark and ominous acapella track that generates a feel of unease to anyone who listens to it. The simplistic production highlights the artist’s haunting vocals. Songs like these show that UNIQUE isn’t afraid of venturing out into new and peculiar sounds.

The downside of showcasing UNIQUE’s artistic versatility is the album’s lack of stylistic cohesiveness. Songs like Jules, Midnight Sky, and I’ll Break Your Little Heart are stand-out tracks on their own, but they seem out of place and inconsistent when compared to the rest of the Grandma’s darker sound. These songs would have been better off packaged in a lighter, more unplugged album. With this in mind, the record is sadly less than the sum of its parts.

UNIQUE’s departure from IV of Spades may have gotten him a lot of flak from the band’s fanbase, but Grandma shows us that he wants to showcase a different side of his musicality. The feverish disco-funk energy his former band used to provide has been replaced with a more restrained, more brooding vibe. Grandma may not be a perfect album, but the talent is definitely there and this record provides us with a glimpse of what’s yet to come from UNIQUE.