Andalucia: IV of Spades’ On Love and Longing

For many IV of Spades fans, Andalucia’s release was highly meaningful. Five years after their debut album, the Filipino indie rock band reunited with all original members following the departure of vocalist and lead singer, Unique Salonga, after releasing their 2018 single ‘Mundo.’ This song was succeeded by their debut album, CLAPCLAPCLAP!, which features the famous ‘Come Inside Of My Heart.’ 

Andalucia, named after vocalist and guitarist Zild Benitez’s apartment, where the group used to gather, sets the ground for intimacy. Spanning 44 minutes, it explores the highs and lows of one’s love life: the want for their attention passing through the spiteful end to the bittersweet reminiscence. The contrast between this second album and their first is quite noticeable. The previous album was infused with more alternative rock, featuring sharp guitar riffs, heavy drums, and elements of pop and ballads. While we do find bits and pieces of their previous work, with familiar riffs in ‘Monster,’ Andalucia ultimately signifies a softer sound, blending each member's distinct styles as they come together to find common ground. 

The band started their album rollout with a surprise release of ‘Aura’ on an unanticipated Wednesday in July 2025. The accompanying video, resembling a Windows screensaver with blue skies and green grass, shows them moving through the hills. This marked the beginning of more surprise releases, including ‘Nanaman,’ ‘Konsensya,’ and ‘Suliranin,’ before dropping the 12-track piece in November 2025.

The album explores the deep yearning that’s long been a hallmark of Filipino art.’Tara,’ a personal favorite, expresses the eagerness and pull to be next to someone you love. It’s fun, romantic, and the chorus really grabs you by the hand. 

Abot langit
Ang mga ngiti
'Pag kasama ka buong linggo
At wala na ngang ibang gustong gawin
Kung 'di makita ka
Tara
//
My smile reaches heaven
When I'm with you all through the week
And there's nothing else that I wanna do
Except see you
Come on!
Chorus from “Tara” – Tagalog & English lyrics

It’s a lively, catchy song that captures the fluttering feeling of being in love, alongside tracks like ‘Nanaman,’ which describes feeling defenseless against someone who is your Achilles' heel, hence the title translating to ‘Again.’ ‘Kabisado’ leans into devotion, memorizing details of the muse 

The “Filipino yearner” has become quite a popular persona on social media recently within the diaspora, a phenomenon that could be explained through significant cultural practices: we’ve grown up on movies that talk of longing loves and are filled with clichés,  and songs that echo similar themes. The way we understand love is ingrained in practices that perhaps don’t resonate with how love really is: love must be earned, performed, and romance is part of the process itself. Whether that reflects what love truly is is a different question, but this understanding has left its mark on Filipino media. 

Andalucia is a love album. It touches on the falling, the messiness, the sting of regret, and the longing nostalgia. IV of Spades has come back more mature, having grown into a space that they’re more comfortable in, giving us an album that reminds me of the sea: at times it thrashes, other times it is calm and receding, yet either way it pulls the listener into its waves. 

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