After leaving OctoArts/EMI, hip-hop trio
Kulay signed with Sony Music Entertainment Philippines and released
Vibestation in 1997 on the Dance Pool label, which is operated out of Sony's European regional office in the U.K. Though
Kulay's previous album (1996's
Flavour of da Moment) was a fine effort, it wasn't up to the band's potential, and the change in labels seems to have recharged
Kulay's creative energy. Simply said,
Vibestation (which predominantly uses English) sets the standard for hip-hop in the Philippines. As before,
Kulay explores numerous R&B styles, including rap, dance, soul, old-school R&B and funk, but this time the emphasis is on funk, resulting in more dance-inflected music.
Kulay also ventures into techno, as heard on "Burn (Scorchin' Dust Remix)" and "Shout, a remake of the classic
Isley Brothers hit.
Kulay also samples
Herbie Hancock's '60s instrumental hit, "Watermelon Man" for its "What's It All About." "Burn" is an outstanding song, a blistering mix of funk and old-school R&B, and features remixes by
Judge Jules and
Norman Cook (aka
Fatboy Slim). Sadly, band member
Jeannie Oakman died shortly after the Philippines release of
Vibestation in 1997, and
Kulay enlisted new member Angel Jones to play showcases in the U.K., Germany and Italy. The Philippines is not readily attuned to modern, adventurous music, and album sales did not meet label expectations, according to the label (there are no album sales charts or SoundScan in the Philippines). However, an album track, "Delicious," was issued in the U.K. in September 1998 and "Burn" was released in the U.S. in July 1999.