The state of Maltese music

As part of the MaltaMedia 2006 Review ( a great way to look back at the ups and downs of the past year), Toni Sant looks at the state of Maltese music:

2006 was undoubtedly one of the most interesting years for music in Malta. The alternative scene saw a reunion for The Rifffs and the release of a relatively large number of albums, including the amazing Is-CD tal-iXtruppaw. Concert goers had a glut of local shows. The less adventurous were rewarded with great gigs by Sting, Roger Waters, Alan Parsons Project (at what used to be the Malta Jazz Festival) and Andrea Boccelli. Krokus finally played in Malta in 2006. Everyone else followed the ups and downs of Malta's entry to the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest, which managed to attract the lowest number of points ever for a Maltese song at this event..

..MySpace was the place to be in 2006 for new internet-only releases by the likes of Grimaud who returned on the scene with You've Been On My Mind. I was very pleased to hear tracks from Mathematikal and Black Aura, but especially Bleed by Tears of Revenge, which has an unexplainable special something for me...Meanwhile, Chris D'Alfonso became the first Maltese artist to release his music on iTunes in 2006. His album Blueprints is now available from the iTunes Music Store. I'm sure more will follow in 2007.

Although I've mentioned quite a large number of LPs, EPs, singles and internet releases, I know I've left out a substantial number of acts who were fairly active in 2006. New bands like Żiżża Ensemble, Brikkuni, 8 Ugly, White Crimson and Putrid Birth, and singers like Carrie immediately come to mind. My feeling is that they'll remain active in 2007 and we'll be hearing new recordings from them. I will undoubtedly feature such recordings on my weekly podcast Mużika Mod Ieħor.

In looking back at 2006, we should not forget Maltese artists who live abroad. Marc Storace's Krokus released their new album Hellraiser and finally played live in Malta. In Australia, Andre Camilleri now has a new band and 2006 saw the release of their debut album. Joe Camilleri returned with The Black Sorrows and a new album entitled Roarin' Town. Paris-based jazz guitarist Sandro Zerafa released the White Russian sessions, while his mate, bassist Oliver Degabriele, continues to play with the Julien Diain Quintet between gigs with others, including Sandro Zerafa. In a parallel universe to the one I've been describing above, lives a phenomenon called the Eurovision Song Contest. Finnish monster rock band Lordi shook the Eurovision from its foundations this year when they nabbed the trophy that so many Maltese pop music lovers covet. I was not disappointed in my visit to Athens - made possible by Hamilton Travel and Vodafone-Malta - for what remains the largest worldwide music-releated television event, even if no one has ever disappointed Malta as Fabrizio Faniello did with his song I Do....

2006 Malta Technology Review by Martin Debattista; Other 2006 reviews here