Shake the Tree

* Vote for the Top 2012 Music Releases in Malta – poll open until 31 December 2012.

Show notes for the 324th Mużika Mod Ieħor podcast featuring music by performers from or in Malta:

Andrew Zammit – Twieled is-Sultan
Following last year’s Paċi fl-Art, Andrew Zammit returns with this one for 2012. It’s a pleasant song that devoid of the saccharine sweetness that normally accompanies most mainstream Christmas songs. Over the past twenty years of so, Andrew has worked with many musicians who have broadened his muscial horizons and this is very clearly reflected in songs like this, which can only really come from mature pop rock musicians. It’s really a good way to open this year’s special Christmas edition of the MMI podcast.

DiCa – Milied Iswed
Diane Camenzuli has just joined Maltese metal band Weeping Silence as lead singer. This song is her collaboration with Marco Larski Ellul and shows her in formidable form as a solo artist. I’m sure that 2013 holds great stuff for her and the band she has just joined. I’m really looking forward to whatever they are about to produce together, and I’m sure I’ll be featuring it on a future edition of the MMI podcast.

Mistura – Diska tal-Milied
This duo has surprised many by appearing in the top 5 of the Online Releases category in the MMI 2012 Listeners’ Picks poll, which is open for voting via Facebook until the end of 2012. As you would expect, the lyrics are a social commentary about this time of the year, but I’m sure that their ever-growing fan base will really appreciate this song as an antidote to the empty cheer that permeates most of the festive season.

Mutt Ley & Gia with the Angel Pop Choir – Christmas Time
In 2008 the original version of this song was unleashed on the Maltese music scene as a collaboration with Gianni Zammit and Moira & Chris. Matt Ley and Gia have now reworked this song with a children’s choir and dedicated it to raise funds for the UK-based charity You Touch Africa. The song is available as a single download on iTunes.

L-Istrina – Stay
Another charity song comes from Malta’s now established annual campaign L-Istrina. With music by Toby and lyrics by Steve Compagno, this one features the voices of Kurt Calleja, Raquela, Marilyn Mifsud and Richard Edwards. It’s the kind of song that will either turn into an instant classic or will simply join the fray of countless other songs that have surfaced at this time of the year as part of the soundtrack of some heart jerking scheme or other, pushed by local television marathons…or should that be telethons.

MCA – Ninni La Tibkix Iżjed
Released last year on the day (or so) after I had recorded my 2011 Christmas edition of the MMI podcast, this song has not only found its way into this year’s show but has also landed a nomination in the Top Video category on the MMI 2012 Listeners’ Picks poll. This is certainly an alternative way of look at (or listening to) Christmas, but this one is surprisingly respectful of the Indri Schembri original, which as become a classic (and certainly traditional) Maltese Christmas carol.

Sempliċiment tat-Triq – Ħrug (Riħa ta’ Milied)
If you’re looking for a sincere contemporary expression of Christmas angst, look no further than this fresh offering from Malta’s foremost underground hip hip act. Not quite appropriate for family listening, particularly where escapism is the order of the day. Gritty is probably how many people would describe this sort of thing, but then again it’s a reality that has been swept under the carpet for far too long, especially in the Maltese way of life. I think it’s a very fitting way to end this year’s MMI podcasts.

The next MMI podcast will appear on Saturday 5th January 2013 and it will feature the top picks by my listeners and others voting on Facebook for the favourite 2012 Maltese music releases.

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.

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