Unnatural Selection

I'm in Malta this week. It's a quick visit for personal and professional reasons. It's all good stuff, even if I don't particularly like traveling long distances for short visits. This is exactly how I feel whenever I go to academic conferences or other professional engagements. Then again, it's a way to get out of my head, ward off severe bouts of cabin fever and meet all sorts of delightful people.

I also can't believe how hot and muggy the weather is over here right now. I don't ever remember October being like this. It's a great difference from what I've become accustomed to in the UK at this time of the year.

Yesterday I attend a couple a great gigs. The first was an amazing acoustic set by Kristina Casolani with guitarist Jes Psaila and percussionist Renzo Spiteri at Fratelli's on the Valletta Waterfront. The other was at Remedy's in Paceville, where the long awaited reunion of Dripht almost literally brought the house down - my ears are still humming more than 12 hours later. I'll be featuring both these acts on my Mużika Mod Ieħor podcast next week along with some of the other stuff I'm hoping to sample while I'm here this weekend.

Brought to you by Vodafone, the 183rd MMI podcast packs an interesting mix of styles and genres. Opening up with Thea Saliba's Lost in Space, which is exactly the sort of delightful electonic pop ditty you expect from this young singer. If nothing else, it sets the mood perfectly for Tenishia's remix of Winter Moods's 2006/07 hit Marigold. Whenever songs switch genres this way their worth is tested to the limits, and this particular favourite from Winter Moods passes the test with flying colours.

Beyond Infinity is a song from a new band called For Strings Inn, who are about to release a debut EP entitled With Strings Attached. From the samples I've heard from it on their MySpace page I get the feeling that each of the 4 tracks on this upcoming CD represent the individual musical taste of each of the band members, including Mark Zizza on bass and drummer Ryan Abela who are quite well-known on the local alternative music scene for their various escapades with groups playing quite varied styles.

Following up their debut album In The House with one called Tear It Down, Y4J Band continue to satify their many fans, particularly those gathered around them in Pembroke's charismatic movement. Tear It Down continues where the debut release left off but shows a degree of maturity, particularly in the vocal arrangements. The title track, which I've chosen to play as the closing song on this week's podcast, is clear testament to this.

All the songs on this week's podcast will be entered on my list of nominations for the 2009 MMI Listener's Picks poll, which will open for votes via Facebook towards the end of November.

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