Monobrow Musical Produce – William
One of the most outstanding duos to ever come out of Gozo is all set for the release of their debut album. It will be released with a gig at the Aurora Theatre on the 2nd of June at 8pm. The album is called Carpet Clown and features a number of remarkable songs. The one with which I’ve selected to open this week’s podcast is simply my choice on first listen and they may very well be selecting a different song with which to launch the album to the general public in the coming days. Hopefully this time they’ll receive some much deserved radio (and possibly TV) airplay beyond quasi-underground shows such as my colleague Michael Bugeja’s Rockna. They most certainly deserve it.

Duo Blank feat. Ira Losco – Human Train
The new album by Maltese electronica veterans Edwin Balzan and Frank Cachia was released this evening at Prestige in Paceville, during a live gig featuring Ira Losco, Errol Sammut, the Ophidian Twin and Karen Cachia, who are some of their vocal collaborators on Propulsion. The album follows on from last years successful single Stars on Mars along with the promotional video for it featuring the lovely burlesque performer Undine LaVerve.

Skarlet – My Song
I’m not sure how this band managed to get away from being featured on a previous edition of my podcast. Violinist Simon Vella or percussionist Renzo Spiteri should have been more than enough to attract my attention to Skarlet. The rest of the band blends together quite beautifully as you can see from this live acoustic recording made for television last year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n23Z4kLzImo

Renzo Spiteri – Ritual Dance
Speaking of Renzo Spiteri, here he is in a live solo rendition on Schlagwerk log drum and water drum from his soon-to-come-to-the-UK tour to promote his late 2011 CD album Silence Sounds and Spaces. He will be playing at various venues in the UK from late May into early June, most notably at the Bath Fringe Festival on the 3rd of June.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njsMEuT8iVg

Equipoise – Charambala
Daniel Grech released a new track today under his nom d’arte Equipoise. I had planned to play this one instead for the past couple of weeks but never really had the time to include it. I thought it would contrast nicely with the acoustic sounds of the previous track on today’s podcast, so here it is.

The RSS feed for the Mużika Mod Ieħor podcast is available here or you can simply click here to subscribe directly with iTunes. You can also follow each new episode through the MMI Podcast: Facebook Fan Page or on MySpace. If you have no idea what any of this means, just enjoy listening to the podcast on the player right below this text.

The Shh – All Things With Love
Beangrowers Alison Galea and Ian Schranz have teamed up again to perform together as the Shh. They appeared at their debut live gig at V-Gen yesterday, along with Joe Gideon & The Shark. They have an EP too and it’s called The Burning Love and an “unofficial fan video” featuring clips from the surf movie Big Wednesday (1978), directed by John Milius, with Jan-Michael Vincent, William Katt and Gary Buse, for this debut release.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aadZn8o-T4

Bustamento – Mañana
Nicky Bomba’s latest project is called Bustamento and involves various Australian musicians he has collaborated with over the past 15 years. This is retro-feel-good music, as you can see from the video for this debut release. This son is a jitterbuggin’, upbeat ska-infused expedition that ticks all the right tropical boxes. Originally recorded by Peggy Lee in the 1950’s, Bomba and the boys have turned this classic into a mento/calypso/ska/reggae hybrid that delivers a ticket to dance. Their forthcoming album is entitled Intrepid Adventures to the Lost Riddim Islands, and features both classic and rare tunes including a whole swag of new songs written by Nicky himself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_1IYqLwly0

Frans il-Ħamallu – Morning Frans
Nadur’s beloved hip hop star Frans Bugeja Buttigieg returns with this witty ditty that clearly cements him as the most endearing Maltese cartoon character to rival Xummiemu, who apparently is about to make a comeback. This one is produced by Mr Herbal with a great video from Stoner Danny. I can’t wait for the next one. I’m sure it will be just as brilliant!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J1z-HQcq04

Akalé Wubé – Mata
The Paris-based jazz quintet returns with their second CD album following their 2010 self-titled debut. They merit attention on my playlist through bassist Oliver Degabriele, who is incidentally Alison Galea’s life partner aside from it all. I like their mellow jazz inflections and the album is very pleasant to listen to, possibly even to ears unaccustomed to progressive sounds. I’m sure they sound just as good whenever they play live.

Freddie Portelli – Jum il-Ħaddiem
Today is Freddie Portelli’s 68th birthday – he was born on the 5th of May 1944. He sent me this recording along with a note saying that this is a song close to his heart because worker’s day is so close to his own date of birth. Ironically, I think his birthday has become rather bittersweet in recent years, as his departed lifelong friend Joe James Farrugia, who frequently performed as his opening act throughout the 1990s and even later, before passing away, was also born on this day.

The RSS feed for the Mużika Mod Ieħor podcast is available here or you can simply click here to subscribe directly with iTunes. You can also follow each new episode through the MMI Podcast: Facebook Fan Page or on MySpace. If you have no idea what any of this means, just enjoy listening to the podcast on the player right below this text.

Show notes for the 296th Mużika Mod Ieħor podcast featuring music by performers from or in Malta. This is a special podcast featuring songs from the 36th edition of L-Għanja tal-Poplu.

Mistura – Isma’ Bilfors
Blues in Maltese is not a new phenomenon. The best exponent is possibly Walter Micallef, who is no stranger with the crowd at L-Għanja tal-Poplu. Antonio Olivari has here team up with singer Malcolm Bonnici (along with Matthew Agius on bass and Francesco Sultana on drums) to make up the group Mistura, who were this year awarded the Best Newcomers accolade.

Kultural – Malta Tiegħi
It cames as no surprise to me that the fabulous Kultural won this edition of L-Għanja tal-Poplu with their biting song. This is 21st-century Maltese patriotism at its best. I would have been both disappointed and amazed if they didn’t manage to stand out among all the other acts and songs at this year’s contest.

Kantilena – Baħħâr
My praise for Kultural should not be read as in any way diminishing the other participants at this year’s festival. This is especially the case for Drinu Camilleri who was named Best Singer-Songwriter for this song. I have already featured this band on a previous edition of my podcast, and L-Għanja tal-Poplu seems a natural home for them.

Rita Pace – Kwadru jew Tond
A contest festival for around a decade or so, singer-songwriter Rita Pace has already won the Best Social Theme Lyrics three times in previous editions of L-Għanja tal-Poplu. This song is particularly crafty and among the ones that certainly stand out among the 15 that took part in this year’s contest. The live version of the song featured Clifford Borg on piano, Paul Attard on guitar and Marie-Claire Attard Bason on backing vocals.

Tale Kwali – Blokk Appartamenti
Antonio Olivari’s other appearance at L-Għanja tal-Poplu this time took the form of a collaboration with his old Stummin’ Home buddy Stephen Ferrito, along with violinist Sean Borg (who is incidentally a blood relative of mine), percussionist Francesco Sultana, and Daniel Borg on backing vocals.

The RSS feed for the Mużika Mod Ieħor podcast is available here or you can simply click here to subscribe directly with iTunes. You can also follow each new episode through the MMI Podcast: Facebook Fan Page or on MySpace. If you have no idea what any of this means, just enjoy listening to the podcast on the player right below this text.

Chordust – Hyperbolic Attitude
When I first played a song featuring the voice of Floren Sultana last year I yearned to hear her with this band. So now here we are and here it is. I must say I’m not disappointed. I am expecting this band to make quite an impact on the local pop rock scene in the coming years and months. Kenny D’Ugo and Dave Calleja have given them quite a polished sound on this recording, which certainly makes for an excellent first impression for those who haven’t heard them (or heard of them) before.

Cruz – Have It All
Marilyn Mifsud’s band returns with a third single. I must admit that I expected more from them then they’ve managed to produce over the past year or so. I’m not too disappointed by this offering, but I don’t see the reason for the long wait. There must be something they’re not telling us. More than this, I hope they’re able to regain the momentum they had built until around this time last year to propel themselves beyond being a support band for larger crowd pullers.

Spriggan Mist – Life’s Ride
This British band has been featured on the MMI podcast before. They return ahead of the upcoming release of their second album. This one is called Soul Retreiver and they’ve taken on a noticably more rocky sound. To my twisted ears, the song I’ve picked almost sounds like an old Jefferson Airplane outtake. The voice you hear is Max Cilia, who also with her husband Baz make Spriggan Mist a welcome inclusion on my podcast.

Clandestines – You’d Have Never Asked My Name As Long As You Got The Satisfaction You Needed
Earlier this year, Clandestines released an EP called Spectemur Agendo, which featured what is probably the longest name for a song to appear on my podcast. Today they’re releasing another EP, split jointly with Hey Sus, on a limited edition of 50…but best of all it’s being issued on cassette tape. Quite a rarity for the Maltese scene these days!

Hey Sus – Kissing Cousins
Today’s launch gig for the joint cassette EP Summer Camp for Pale Young Boys is at the Coach & Horses at about the same time that this podcast first appears in public. I’ve picked this song from Hey Sus to close this week’s podcast. I must say, however, that the more I hear this duo the more I like them; really really like them.

The RSS feed for the Mużika Mod Ieħor podcast is available here or you can simply click here to subscribe directly with iTunes. You can also follow each new episode through the MMI Podcast: Facebook Fan Page or on MySpace. If you have no idea what any of this means, just enjoy listening to the podcast on the player right below this text.

Robert G – Only On His Way
Robert Galea is a new singer on the scene, at least as far as I know. He has just released this song written by Characters/Rifffs frontman Ray Mercieca. The style is very recognizable as Mercieca’s but somehow Robert G makes it sound mellower than it would sound performed by the songwriter. He’s now preparing to release a music video for this song. I’m also hoping we hear more from him (or at least about him) in the coming weeks and months.

Joe Demicoli – Tajruhielu
Paul Vella Critien’s Colonna Mediterranea has been the subject of controvery since the very first day it appeared at the Lidl roundabout in Luqa. Last week it lost its head (presumably through an act of vandalism) and this prompted Joe Demicoli, who released a whole album dedicated to this piece of public art a few years ago, to write a new song to mark the moment. Unlike the happy-go-lucky standard covers with humorous Maltese lyrics full of funny doublespeak, this is a more thoughtful satirical ditty, with hints of pathos.

Lyndsay – Run Away
Lyndsay Pace returns with another radio-friendly power pop single. I expect we’ll see a music video for this one too in the coming weeks. I can’t help feeling that in a larger market than Malta (or even if she aimed at a broader audience systematically) she would be appreciated at a level she deserves rather than play filler on all sorts of shows that make me cringe whenever I see her on them.

Colourblind – Paper Planes
There’s a Global Battle of the Bands on right now. You can vote for bands from 86 cities around the world, including Malta’s own Colourblind, who are competing with this song. This is organized by the Hard Rock Cafe chain around the world and the winning band will be performing at London’s Hyde Park this July, and crowned the winner of what’s known as Hard Rock Rising 2012. The top 10 bands from this round as determined by fan voting will be judged by a panel of musicians and music industry insiders. You can vote through this Facebook app. Voting ends on 24 April 2012 at 11:59pm EST. Right now it looks like Balinese band Superman Is Dead will be the ones playing in London this summer, but then again anything can happen with these open voting systems and the judging panel having a final say.

MCA – Iddeċidejt
Maltese Church Anthems is a rather unusual name for a garage surf punk band singing Christian rock. I prefer the MCA moniker as it has more of a rock ‘n roll feel. This is the third song from this band (following a blinding version of the Lord’s Prayer called Missierna and a scorching version of the traditional Christmas carol Ninni La Tibkix Iżjed) and their music videos make the songs really work for me. I know it’s not for everyone, but I firmly believe that they’re doing something truly worthwhile.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwGzohPftz8

The RSS feed for the Mużika Mod Ieħor podcast is available here or you can simply click here to subscribe directly with iTunes. You can also follow each new episode through the MMI Podcast: Facebook Fan Page or on MySpace. If you have no idea what any of this means, just enjoy listening to the podcast on the player right below this text.

Red Electrick – Paul
In preparation for the launch of their film project of Unplugged Sessions, Red Electrick have released this single to enable further promotion of the new work, beyond the interesting trailer featuring Ray Mercieca, which you may have seen on YouTube. Anyway, I’m sure this is something we’ll hear more of and about in the coming weeks and months. It’s an interesting way for this band to follow up their debut album from 2010.

FellowFish – The Outlaw
A second single from the Ordinary Madness debut for Keith Anthony’s largest project post-Chasing Pandora. Although there’s more of a band feel to this material than the Chasing Pandora releases over the years, Keith’s indelible mark makes me wonder whether this is what the duo that brought him to public attention across the Maltese islands would sound like now. Anyway, I like the video and the song grows on you after a second listen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sgyfm_o3cOk

Negative Spaces – BK2SQR1
This newcomer band (they’re new, right?) sound very 1980s retro, so it’s no surprise that this song was produced by Niki Gravino. It’s almost as if, Gravino is providing his fans with his next offering through a group of meat puppets. But perhaps that’s unkind to Negative Spaces, so we’ll just have to see what their next offering is going to be. This sound stands out in the tedium of most other guitar bands on the local scene, but I don’t think it will be getting much radio airplay given how unadventurous Maltese radio stations tend to be.

Eric Ellul – Surrey
I didn’t know Eric E when he was entrenched on the local DJ circuit. I only just found out that he passed away from cancer last December through the release of a tribute album called We Share Love from local net-label Bass Assault. The rest of today’s podcast is my tribute to Eric, and I’m sure that I would have eventually included his stuff on one of my podcasts. He seemed well loved, especially by his fellow DJs and friends on the scene.

Lost Emotions – Goodbye
Taken from the Eric E Ellul tribute album featuring Hystericmaniak, Dre’, and Sonitus Eco, among many others, this trance track by Lost Emotions serves as a good segue for the final song I’ve included on this week’s podcast. Proceeds from the album are in aid of cancer support, but I’m not entirely sure whether that’s a particular hospice, a research project or any other specific cancer care service.

John Mark – We Share Love
Lost Emotions is the name used by Steven Psaila and Anthony Meachen, who apparently recorded this original song written by John Mark, Gordon Sacco and Mario Agius in memory of their friend Eric Ellul. I have a feeling that this could have been the current White Crimson release had that band still been active. Anyway, it’s a fitting tribute to Eric from friends outside the DJ scene within which he was clearly very loved.

The RSS feed for the Mużika Mod Ieħor podcast is available here or you can simply click here to subscribe directly with iTunes. You can also follow each new episode through the MMI Podcast: Facebook Fan Page or on MySpace. If you have no idea what any of this means, just enjoy listening to the podcast on the player right below this text.

Show notes for the 292nd Mużika Mod Ieħor podcast featuring music by performers from or in Malta:

The Common Talk – Find a Way
Claudia Faniello is now the singer in a rock band. Joining up with bassist Daniel Genius, guitarist Wayne Camilleri and drummer Darryl Curmi, this debut sounds to me like they’re saving better material for later. In any case, I am curious to see what their next step will be. Whatever it is, I’m quite sure I’ll be featuring it on a future edition of the MMI podcast.

Bridget Bone – Gregory Jackson
No longer the new kids on the block, Bridget Bone serve up a fierce follow-up to last years smash hit Jackie the Stripper. This song is named after a broadcast journalist who reported the death of guitar god Jimi Hendrix way back in 1970. I have a feeling they’re a video in the making for this song, mainly because that’s the way this band rolls. It’s certainly one of their endearing qualities, along with catchy riffs and tuneful melodies.

Mystic Rain – Split Ends
A new song from a band that’s been kicking about for some time. No sure what they’re really on about, but Bex Galea’s voice is certainly charming. It develops towards the end of this song and if this band know what’s good for them they’ll make more use of her better qualities in their next offering.

Subverts – Theatre of the Absurd
It’s no secret that this is one of my favourite Maltese bands not just of the 1980s but of all times. This recording comes from their final formation towards the end of that faithful decade. Their activities were cut short by the tragic work-related death of drummer Charles “Chalkie” Cutajar in December 1989 and the total demise of the Tigne Rokarja scene. This sound was inspired by the activities at Ateatru, the fringe theatre within the AST complex, which presented productions of absurd theatre, among other things, throughout most of the 1980s. Tonight’s (31/3/12) Rokarja reunion at the Black Pearl will most certainly feature an airing of this song and number of members of this band will most likely be present to mingle and reminisce about damp rehearsal rooms, extortionate tax rates on musical equipment, and how great it all was back then when we were young.

Bark Bark Disco – Let’s Do This
A few weeks ago, on Monday 12 March 2012, to be precise, a live music webcast was presented under the name So Lo Fi, featuring YEWS, MegaFun and Bark Bark Disco. This recording made by Ian Schranz is from the soundtrack of that live stream. Possibly the first such event for the Maltese music scene (please correct me if I’m wrong) but I’m surprised that there haven’t already been more. This is really the way of the future.

The RSS feed for the Mużika Mod Ieħor podcast is available here or you can simply click here to subscribe directly with iTunes. You can also follow each new episode through the MMI Podcast: Facebook Fan Page or on MySpace. If you have no idea what any of this means, just enjoy listening to the podcast on the player right below this text.

Carrie Haber – Crash & Burn (aka Mr Taxi Man)
Recorded live in the studio this is a lovely prelude for Carrie Haber’s upcoming EP Taurus, which is due to be released on Thursday 26 April 2012 at The Bedford in London. Slowly, but surely, Carrie is finding her own voice and establishing herself as a prolific artist in her own right. The video for this live track shows what a remarkable performer she really is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9k8eFR_1Ts

Adie – Cry For You
Last year’s video for Adie’s Reaction was voted as the Top Video in the 2011 MMI Listeners’ Picks poll. This follow up is even better than last year’s offering, so I’m expecting it to receive a considerable amount of votes come the 2012 poll towards the end of this year. Adie’s voice too sounds better to me on this song and if she keeps at it this way I’m sure that things can only get better in the coming years.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8Ltj3F0FwU

Bruwtal – Mother in Pain
Christian Navarro from Naxxar records some rather dark ambient sounds under the name Bruwtal. This is just one o the tracks he has released via SoundCloud this year. If you like the one I’ve selected I’m sure you’ll like the rest.

Atlam – Victims Overture
More than three decades before Kizum Klof decided it was a good idea to spell things backwards, there was Atlam. They came together in early 1980 with a line up consisting of three Xuereb brothers: Charles on guitars, Lizio on bass and Stephen on drums, and their cousin Charlie on keyboards. In 1983, they started working on a rock opera called Victims. The musicial was never performed in public as they encountered some authoritative resistance to their drug references. The music was recorded anyway in 1986 using a 4-track cassette player.

Sempliciment tat-Triq & Marmalja – Spirtu Pront 2012
Zdongrap and Lapes are the voices of the respective projects behind this recording of Maltese-language hip hop, capturing the sound of Maltese rap in 2012. Building on previous material we’ve heard from them separately, this particular track sees them maturing considerably in their choice of words and topics, while remaining true to their roots and musical preferences. Although they are far from popular on mainstream media, this is a real sound of Maltese contemporary pop music stemming from traditional għana tal-pront. In time I believe that this lineage will become even more evident than it already is to anyone who wants to hear it that way.

The RSS feed for the Mużika Mod Ieħor podcast is available here or you can simply click here to subscribe directly with iTunes. You can also follow each new episode through the MMI Podcast: Facebook Fan Page or on MySpace. If you have no idea what any of this means, just enjoy listening to the podcast on the player right below this text.

Show notes for the 290th Mużika Mod Ieħor podcast featuring music by performers from or in Malta:

Kizum Klof – Nutjeż
This new act with a rather unusual name stands out as much as their decision to spell things backwards. Acoustic guitarists Glenn Paul Pace and Kevin Borg are tapping into a long tradition of Maltese folk music and they not only know it but clearly relish in it. This debut single demonstrates both their virtuosity and promise which I’m quite sure will be greatly welcome on the local scene in ways that many may not expect. I know they have already attracted a relatively large cult following, and this can only grow and grow until they move away from Maltese shores where they will undoubtedly make an indelible mark on a global scene that has lots of room for this sort of ethnic offering that’s not produced exclusively for tourists.

For Strings Inn – Julie July
Not quite as impressive as their earlier work, this new single from For Strings Inn is still surely good enough to get them back on the airwaves of many local stations. The accompanying video will give this song a life beyond the radio and I must say that Nick Morales has really applied some of the more elaborate music video techniques he has learned over the years, as he places himself clearly on the forefront of the Maltese video production scene.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2nhtPYASXs

Stolen Creep – Wolves
This band’s sound has matured considerably since their last offering. If they keep going this way, I have a feeling that they will eventually make an indelible mark on the local alternative music scene. They are releasing an EP, from which this song is taken, on Sunday 18 March 2012 at V-Gen in Paceville. At that launch event, they will be supported by Alex Alden and Hey Sus.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiNDNtEM3Fc

Hey Sus – Boo Bay
I thought it would be fitting to end this week’s podcast with a recording from this seemingly fun loving duo who came together as a recording band last year. They have quite a cool looking website too and I’m hoping that they’ll eventually live up to their promise of releasing more recordings. When they do, I’m pretty sure I’ll be playing them again on my podcast…particularly because I never understood why surf pop never achieved greater popularity in the Maltese islands.

The RSS feed for the Mużika Mod Ieħor podcast is available here or you can simply click here to subscribe directly with iTunes. You can also follow each new episode through the MMI Podcast: Facebook Fan Page or on MySpace. If you have no idea what any of this means, just enjoy listening to the podcast on the player right below this text.

Nicky Bomba – Highgrade
I saw Nicky Bomba live at the Earth Garden Festival last summer and I must say that he is a top class live entertainer. Listening to this song from him I can see that he is very deliberate in setting up the building blocks that make him such an excellent entertainer on stage with a live audience in front of him. The video is also testimony of his respect for the reggae music of Jamaica. I expect that he will eventually demonstrate a similar level of respect to the homeland of his Maltese ancestors, as he has already shown quite a bit of appreciation for his blood roots.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsIPzE-9VWs

The Sylvan Aaron Massacre – Love This City
Their follow up to the stunning debut Come On (Come On) is a little more radio friendly, and certainly the most likely offering from Sy Borg to receive any significant airtime in Malta. In any case, this duo continues to be championed by my dear friend and colleague Michael Bugeja who is always more than happy to play them on this radio shows. A few days after the podcast this video appeared too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHfn5W7cCLU

Freddie Portelli – Doin’ Alright
In a recent email, Freddie Portelli explained to me that he had written this song back in the 1960s, but never recorded it with his then band The Malta Bums or even with The Black Train, with whom he recorded extensively throughout most of the 1970s. He finally recorded it just a few weeks ago, from memory, with a rather recognizable arrangement/style that we’ve come to expect from the man now, as a mature veteran of the local pop rock scene.

Fr Rob Galea – Reach Out
I am always impressed with the elegance in the productions presented by this young Maltese priest based in Australia. He is also very subtle with his religious messages, for the most part. I’m sure he has fans who are not simply followers of Christian pop rock music. Anyway, if you’ve never paid particular attention to his songs before, listen to this one on this week’s podcast and take a look at the video right here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJdZRYNY6wg

Brian Vassallo – Embracing Pathway
I’m very appreciative when local artists bother to inform me of their new releases and send them to me to include on my podcast. For the most part, I include (almost) everything that’s sent to me directly but I probably would have gone out to chase after the new one from Brian Vassallo because I find his electronic sounds quite soothing. I’m sure you’ll be hard-pressed to disagree with me.

The RSS feed for the Mużika Mod Ieħor podcast is available here or you can simply click here to subscribe directly with iTunes. You can also follow each new episode through the MMI Podcast: Facebook Fan Page or on MySpace. If you have no idea what any of this means, just enjoy listening to the podcast on the player right below this text.