Rain

It's been raining quite heavily for the past couple of days. Britain is fairly notorious for rainy weather but even by UK standards what we've seen this week is quite extreme. I gather that this is similar to the great soaking Rome saw on the canonization weekend earlier this month, which moved on to Malta a day or so later.

Usually I don't care so much about the weather but since I've added gardening to my pastimes it's natural that I get concerned...especially when the rain damages (even ever so slightly) my horticultural efforts. This is where having more than one pastime comes in handy. Some pastimes, however, aren't considered a hobby, and for me one such activity that's not easy to define as such is my weekly podcast. This week's edition is the 71st in the series and it give me the opportunity to play four brand new tracks, all of which will undoubtedly make it to the end of year listeners' pick for 2007.

The Rifffs have recorded a couple of new tracks at Farmhouse Studios in Siggiewi and will be releasing Jack the Ripper as their next single this summer. It's a very energetic track that showcases the band in full force. I sense a possible theme for their elusive debut album but I doubt that this is what's been delaying the date of this much awaited release. We can only continue to hope but I'm sure the album is an inevitable reality (hopefully) later this year.

Christabelle Borg was born a whole decade after The Rifffs released their first single. She is only 15 but judging from Tonight her new single - recorded in America in January with a Malta released in April - she's on her way to make her mark on the local music scene...if not beyond. R&B has always been an elusive genre for Maltese musicians. This is understandable when you consider that it is quintessentially an American style. So when Christabelle's songs sound authentic mainly because of the heavy American input on them. This is not to ignore the fact that she has been beautifully coached on how to sing in a way that goes beyond the ordinary and mediocre, an approach that usually sounds the death knell for most other Maltese pop idol wannabes.

When it rains it pours. Another new release this month comes from Chemical Orphan. Following up on carnival's Casanova the next song is tied in with the UN's World Refugee Day on June 20. What If It Was You? is a provocative song and one that made me uncomfortable the first time I heard it. I believe the same will happen to other people, possibly for different reasons too. You can hear it on this week's edition of Mużika Mod Ieħor and make up your own mind about it.

Straying away from new releases for a moment, I'd like to thank Brussels-based Maltese blogger Gybexi for pointing out the online availability of the 1977 album This is Joe Cutajar. Listening to any of the tracks on this album you can easily see how far the Maltese recording scene has come. This was one of the first recordings made at Smash Studio in Fgura. The songs are composed by Ray Agius whose more recent High Alert appeared on last week's podcast. This week I've picked Dak Kien Żmien sung by Joe Cutajar, featuring an instrumental phrase that always reminds me of the Moody Blues' Nights in White Satin.

Back to new releases, I can't fail to point out the release of Tifkira a new CD in Australia by Manuel Casha commemorating the first anniversary from the death of Frans Baldacchino il-Budaj. To mark this anniversary, next week's podcast will be a repeat of my tribute to Frans il-Budaj, which was originally published in the weekend after the singer's passing. This series continues with new releases and other material the following weekend when I'll bring you the 72nd edition of Mużika Mod Ieħor.

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