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Show notes for the 341st Mużika Mod Ieħor podcast featuring music by performers from or in Malta:

Stefanos – Heart Stands Still
Virtually unknown, guitarist Stefan Mifsud is working on his next album, which will be called Everyone is a World. To my mind he is far too prolific and consistent not to attract a larger fan following. He has also had some rather well known collaborators on his recent efforts. It remains to be seen what he has in store for us on this new album, which will hopefully be out by December.

The Areola Treat – Radio On
The band is gearing up to release its third CD ahead of its second album. While quite good at what they do, this band strikes me as one that takes itself a little too seriously. Then again, I may be missing the point. Or perhaps it’s just the vibe I’m getting from this video, shot, directed & edited by Daniel Cassar with help from the Malta Arts Fund. In any case, the Radio On EP launch will take place at Ir-Razzett l-Aħmar in Ta’ Qali on the 12th of July 2013.

Chess – Storm
I rarely replay the same tracks on the MMI series. It’s not that Chess has grown on me, even if I have become fonder of her as time has passed since I first heard her a couple of years ago. I am very impressed by the promotional video for this song off her debut EP Babygirl, released last year. This new animated video was produced through a Kickstarter campaign she ran. To my knowledge, this is the first time that a Maltese performer has financed a promotional video this way. It goes to show what a little initiative and some genuine talent can do. Well done Fran and everyone involved in making this video possible!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4jhrYT2Zso

Craig Mac – Lekki
Released today on London’s Shameless Toady label, Craig Mac’s EP Aħna attracted my attention the minute I discovered it via Facebook this morning. This young man from Xgħajra produces some solid electo vibes, and I’ll certainly be watching out for more from him. I’m also quite amused by the fact that Shameless Toady is housed just a few doors down from the Wikimedia UK office where I spend so much time these days on Leonard Street in London.

Kemmuna Airways – Kemmuna Airways 2013
OMG! They’re back! As cheesy and delightful as ever, Augusto Cardinali and Joe Demicoli remind us how entertaining they really were all those years ago. Dj Otzi’s Anton Aus Tirol is the perfect schlager to pick for this reunion; it’s heartwarming that they’re actually doing this for the Hospice benefit on yesterday’s Xarabank. Anyway, in a beautiful nod to the new generation, Mikiel Camilleri Haber features prominently on the promotional video. Anyway, what else can I say? Kemmuna Airways will forever be the undisputed Maltese kings of this genre of frothy light entertainment.

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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Show notes for the 340th Mużika Mod Ieħor podcast featuring music by performers from or in Malta:

Gypsy Genes – Red Hot Money
Almost a super-group, this new band features Scar guitarist David Cassar Torreggiani, former Winter Moods drummer James Vella, and Fakawi keyboardist Mark Attard (who has probably played with everyone in the Maltese music scene), along with a newcomer bassist (Lil Funk Xuereb) and singer Rikki Lee. The song is quite striking, with its pulsating electro-rock groove, but it’ll most likely be remembered for the lighthearted promotional video, which you can see here.

The Myth – Beautiful
One of the longest standing bands on the local scene returns with another new song. To my mind they’re musical chameleons who sound very much like whatever it is they’ve been listening to the most when they put together whatever song they’re working on. I mean this as a compliment because far too many bands pick one style and stick to it ad nauseum, indeed rather nauseously. I’m surprised that this song was not released along with a promotional video on 2 June, particularly because the band has decorated its website with the results of a rather stylish and fairly elaborate photo shot. It really is quite eye catching.

Jean Claude Vancell – Superhero
Jean Claude Vancell is one of Malta’s most promising singer-songwriters. I believe that although he has been quite prolific since his teenage years, his best work is still ahead of him. He has not managed to become a household name yet, but I think it’s a matter of time before he becomes rather well known across Malta. Perhaps all he really needs to do is forget songs in English and focus on producing songs in Maltese. Then again, I could be wrong.

KażinSka – Al Pacino
Whenever people like Justin Galea, Danjeli Schembri, and Michael Galea get together we’re in for a musical treat. This time they’ve teamed up with a handful of brass musicians to create this very original band that specializes in backbeat reinterpretations of festive band marches, which waft through the streets of Malta and Gozo throughout the summer months. As you’d expect, they went down really well at this year’s Għanafest. This recording is their take on one of a well-known march by David Aguis. No, not that one!

Dorothy Bezzina – Wieħed Biss
Dominic Galea returns with another CD album featuring new compositions around the words of a dead Maltese poet. Karba is a celebration of the poet Rużar Briffa, who is considered by many literary scholars as the first significan modern Maltese poet, even if he was well-anchored in fairly traditional forms. A number of singers and musicians appear on the album, but I’ve picked this one featuring the beautiful song of one who has most recently become known as one of Gianluca Bezzina’s sisters. Believe me, she is very well worth knowing as a singer in her own right too.

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.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:33 — 18.9MB) | Embed

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Show notes for the 339th Mużika Mod Ieħor podcast featuring music by performers from or in Malta:

Mana Tapu – Babylon Aside
Earlier this year I played a number of songs taking part to represent Malta at the Hard Rock Rising Global Battle of the Bands. That privilege went to the delightful Mana Tapu, newcomers on the scene. They’ve made quite an impact with fans and critics alike, even if the contest wasn’t really an adventure that propelled them to great fame. I’m very much looking forward to hearing from them again. When I do, you can rest assured that you’ll be seeing them on my podcast again.

DJ Format feat. Sureshot La Rock – Mr DJ

Malta Bums – Mister DJ
My colleague Michael Bugeja pointed out this reworking of the B-side from the 1973 classic vinyl release L-Ewwel Tfajla li Ħabbejt. The song was co-written by Alfred C. Sant and Ray Agius, who features on this recording as the organ player. I’m not sure what to make of all this, other than the fact that it’s always great to have an excuse to listen to the legendary Bayzo sing.

Kristina Casolani – Reduce / Reuse / Recycle (Carlo Gerada Mix)
It’s good to see KC spreading herself towards a new fanbase, while doing some good with this environmental awareness campaign. I’m still waiting to hear her do a song in Maltese. Perhaps this was a missed opportunity, but in spite of that I think that she still has further good stuff up her sleeve.

Dorothy Muscat – Signor Si
One more song from this year’s L-Għanja tal-Poplu to close up this week’s podcast. It’s a sweet little song composed by seasoned veteran Sammy Galea with lyrics by Joe Julian Farrugia. This song placed second in the contest, but that’s not why I’m playing it. I really like how it captures a history of the way Maltese pop festival songs have evolved since the 1960s.

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.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:02 — 18.4MB) | Embed

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Show notes for the 338th Mużika Mod Ieħor podcast featuring music by performers from or in Malta:

Texas – The Conversation
From time to time we include something by Scottish singer Sharleen Spiteri. This time she’s back with her long-time band Texas and a song I used as the title of the podcast show notes on my blog a couple of podcasts ago. Spiteri is, of course, of Maltese descent, and that’s how Texas end up opening this week’s podcast. In any case, it’s a good song too…so that helps, wouldn’t you agree?

Chris & Moira – Flight 170
The pop duo that came together representing Malta at the Eurovision Song Contest almost 20 years ago have ended up sharing a life together. They now return with a new album that shows song writing and performance maturity on their part. There isn’t much else for me to add, other than listen to the song and judge for yourself. I have a feeling you’ll like it…I mean, why wouldn’t you?

Rita Pace – Pupazzi
Rita Pace has been one of my favourite Maltese singer-songwriters for many years. This is what led me to invite her to give an intimate concert at the M3P launch a couple of years ago. Here’s her song from this year’s L-Għanja tal-Poplu, which she co-wrote with Emil Calleja Bayliss. It doesn’t hurt that the song placed third in the contest…but that doesn’t really matter, does it?

Banda Briganti & Justin Galea – Il-Maltin bil-Politka Medhijin
I played another song by this band a few weeks ago. Here they team up with the ever-prolific Justin Galea. I like this song very much, and apparently so did the judges at this year’s L-Għanja tal-Poplu because they picked Sylvan Borg as this year’s Best Songwriter. I’ve featured his songs on my podcast long before most people knew who he was…and he knows that, don’t you Syl?

Robert Farrugia – Title Track
An experimental teenage musician from Malta is a rarity. Robert Farrugia falls very comfortably in this category. I’m rather impressed by his output and have been wanting to play one of this tracks for a number of months. I’ve picked this one, but I could/should have picked another from his debut album A Summer’s Sketch or his latest EP ​Mistranslation. I’m sure we’ll be hearing more from him in the coming months and years…really, why shouldn’t we?

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.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:29 — 18.8MB) | Embed

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