Sugar Hiccup

by Michael SuttonSugar Hiccup drop a hint of what they sound like with their name, which is taken from a song by dream pop pioneers the Cocteau Twins. Like the Cocteau Twins, Sugar Hiccup features angelic, high-pitched female vocals gliding over ethereal guitars. The band formed in Manila, Philippines, with Melody del Mundo (vocals, lead guitars), Czandro Pollack (rhythm guitars), Russel Dacasin (bass), and Mervin Panganiban (drums) in 1994. They released their first album, Oracle, in 1995 on BMG Records Pilipinas. Mainstream radio stations in the Philippines were initially hesitant to play the album's first single, "Five Years." With its unintelligible, funereal wailing, thunderous drums, and doleful guitars, it was welcomed by Manila's alternative scene before it was embraced by the masses. Oracle eventually sold more than 20,000 copies. In 1996, Oracle garnered the Best Alternative Recording trophy at the Awit Awards (the Philippines' version of the Grammys) and "Five Years" won for Best Alternative Song and Best Alternative Performance by the songwriters' organization KATHA. In 1998, Sugar Hiccup released their second album Womb to widespread critical acclaim.