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Broad Band Gathering DVD That’s right, the two special nights held at Lowenbrau Brewery are now caught on tape, or rather a DVD! This is a double DVD containing live footage of all the bands that played on the night. A lot of preparation was done before this festival, and took us a lot of energy to organize everything to be done as smoothly as possible on those two days, and here you can see the effort. Recorded and produced by Kevin, from Clauneck Productions, this DVD is worth having in your rack. If anything, it stands as a monument to those two special nights that will go down in the Maltese Underground music history! Dripht EP The self-titled Dripht EP took everyone by surprise, and was sold out on the same day of the release! The song “Mark Barnsley”, a jumpy-feel reggae-ska number that describes the unfortunate story of an English Anarchist ended up being voted the “Best Single” for the year 2004 by Malta’s most popular radio station, paving way for our bands to start pushing for their songs to be played on the local radios. Dripht’s agenda had always been that of speaking about the state of the world, and they wear their heart on their sleeve on this very politically charged record. “Acid Fight” has a bluesy rock’n’roll feel to it, while “Continental Drift” shows Dripht breaking their musical barriers, fusing rhythmic bass and drum lines, with moody guitar licks. The record also contains a video of the song “Mark Barnsley”. Get this if you want to listen to an important record from an important band in our scene! Festahwid I Compilation It-Tahwid ikompli! This was the first ever release from Reciprocal Records! The Festahwid concert was an idea generated over a couple of beers, after more and more bands set up their garages but never had a venue to play in. We kept changing venues as long as the owner of the place sold his stock. That was the deal. No debts, and absolutely no profits. We always used our equipment put together and organized in a mutualistic manner with the party and beer drinking starting at soundchecks. The year 2002, however saw us catching the noise on digital DIY recording. The record consists of two songs from all the bands that played that night. These include: Disobedience, The Vegetables, RAKK, Subculture, Totema, Migraine, BNI, The Abjects, Mass Debate, The I Skandal, and Rage Against Society. 1. Decide – Disobedience 2. Welcome to Babylon – Disobedience 3. Bebbuxu Malinju – The Vegetables 4. Hu dan il-Maktur mimli Mahta – The Vegetables 5. Is-Soluzzjoni – Rakk 6. No Future – Rakk 7. Bullets – Subculture 8. Black White Yellow Red – Subculture 9. S.O.M.B – Totema 10. Promoting Confusion – Totema 11. Midnight Express – Migraine 12. Profitable Loss – Migraine 13. Inertia – B.N.I. 14. Civilisation – B.N.I. 15. Sentenced to Live – The Abjects 16. Murderous Technology – The Abjects 17. Lock – Mass Debate 18. Playing with Fire – Mass Debate 19. Raguni – the ISkandal 20. Reason and Confusion – the ISkandal 21. March of the Anarchist – Rage Against Society 22. Anger = Energy – Rage Against Society Festahwid II Compilation The Festahwid 2005 consisted of many new interesting acts. One cannot not mention the fact that this was Xtruppaw’s first ever gig in front of an audience, and the gig that kickstarted their plans to conquer further. Delli Wah-du’s performance at this gig was another highlight, giving us folk songs of dark-humour that left everyone with a smile from cheek to cheek. Of course, all of this was backed with the brilliant regular punk bands that play every time at Festahwid, like BNI, Riotious Future, Dripht and Pupi tal-Loghob. This Festahwid will stay with us for a very long time, all because our DIY sound guru Steve “Lombardo” from Hell Next Door Studio who managed to capture the spirit of the festival on CD. Among the songs, the record includes various quotes from random people getting on stage and having their say. Enjoy the madness and beer flowing atmosphere of this memorable gig at the comfort of your home now. Get this and relive these 2 crazy nights! Recorded live @ Signals, Tal-Qroqq. 1. Ftuh 2. Xiz-Zobb Trid – The Alazobombz 3. Shadows – B.N.I. 4. Wirdien – The Vegetables 5. Saffar Ja Xih – Delli Wah Du 6. The Wedding Song – Pupi tal-Loghob 7. Breaking Out – Oddonesout 8. Innu Mhux Ufficjali – Woody 9. Malta – Xtruppaw 10. Speech/Worms – Il-President Dr Ciz/Vixaw 11. Adjectives – The Iskandal 12. Id-Dentist – Delli Wah Du 13. Take The Streets with Anger – Rioutous Future 14. Ecoclast – Dripht 15. Kwarta Quotes – Persuni Varji 16. Tahwida Shiha – The Alazobombz + Guests 17. Patata Maxx, Saqaf ma' Hajt – Vixaw 18. Gheluq Force Majeur BNI’s second full-length album, which is a crossbreed between Old and New School Punk. Songwriting is fast, more polished and powerful, while most tracks contain sing-along tunes and choruses. Lyrical content is more focused on individual frustration but is also characterised by a positive slant. Ska and Reggae elements are ever-present, somehow or another, and melodies are faster, more intense and involving. From the Garage to the Streets This is what Kenneth Cassar, a fan of Subculture and Animal Rights Activist wrote about 'From the Garage to the Streets' 'Here was a band with a genuine social message. It was only a matter of time until I discovered they were active in animal rights issues and had even an animal rights song. Subculture are not the type of band which sings about useless topics or endless love songs, though, as Crass say in Yes Sir, I Will, 'In attempts to moderate, they ask why we don't write love songs. What is it that we sing then? Our love of life is total, everything we do is an expression of that, everything that we write is a love song'. This perfectly describes the Subculture lyrics in 'From the Garage to the Streets'. That is what 'From the Garage to the Streets' is all about. Released in the time of the US attack on Iraq, the record spreads a very powerful message. The music is melodic punk rock that will let you think about what is being said. This is a record for those who want something deeper, more meaningful than just to hum to a tune. Global Warning Released almost exactly a year after their debut EP, Dripht’s “Global Warning” didn’t disappoint. Opener “Rocking to Resist” re-affirmed the band’s commitment towards singing about world affairs, social justice and the environment in a very anthemic way. The record also consisted of the cover version “Dance Music for the 80’s Depression” from local SKA veterans The Rifffs. Rumour has it that the song convinced the Rifffs to re-form once again to give us a mighty comeback. We saw Dripht sounding more “indie” on “Old Times go Astray”, while “Guy on TV” gave us a massive chorus that once again echoed on several local radio stations for weeks. Get this record if you want to catch a glimpse of what the guys sounded like in the days of funk and energy-fuelled gigs! Hard to Understand “Hard to Understand” is a very important record in the sense that it has been the first and currently the only record that has been put forward by Maltese Punk veterans and pioneers Abstrass since 1979! Fronted by Erich “il-punk” on vocals, Ray “il-Bahri” on guitar, Ray “Hamiemu” on the skins, and James “in-Nemlu” on bass, Abstrass has been grinding street-punk since then, albeit with a slightly different line-up. Recorded in 7 hours straight at “Charlie Paletti’s Studio”, “Hard to Understand” is punk as fuck! The record includes both songs from the past as well as some new songs. “Malta’s burning” has an infectious chorus that leaves you wanting for more, while “Make Love not War” is a classic from the Tigne’ days that has definitely brought a lot of good memories for the old Malta punks. You can’t say that you know the history of the Maltese Punk scene if you haven’t listened to this one yet! Il Disagio Non E Un Reato NO REVIEW YET Ilsien Pajjizi/Native Tongue BNI have their roots in this debut album. All the rawness and power that the band still sports today can be easily identified in this release. Lyrical content is a mix between anti-authoritarian statements and individual angst. Tracks are built around fast, harsh melodies which occasionally melt down to Ska and Reggae rhythms again picking up speed and giving off Metal undertones. Ilsien Pajji?i / Native Tongue features the first ever Punk tracks in Maltese: Punk, L-Im?issem and Qrunha f’Butha. Is-CD ta' l-iXtruppaw Xtruppaw has really taken the scene by a storm! Formed ages ago through the band members’ various DIY barbeques, Xtruppaw re-invented their songs written in Maltese to fit the punky style of Festahwid 5 where they played for the first time ever in front of an audience. Xtruppaw never looked back after that gig, and after a series of live gigs, presented us with this masterpiece we couldn’t refuse not releasing. 16 tracks of brutal honesty that makes you cry tears of laughter, ic-CD ta’ l-iXtruppaw is packed with tunes that has captured the Maltese identity as real as it gets. Tracks like “Glorja Tonna”, “Dear Poni” and “Dlam Cappa u riha ta’ Hara” show what Xtruppaw can do even with the stupidest of ideas, whereas other tracks like “Generazzjoni ta’ Meqrudin”, “Malta”, and “Rajt Ma Rajtx” can be more political than what their face-value humour might convey. If you want to hear THE Maltese record of year 2006, make sure you get this one! Just Rock Taking indie, poppy tunes and mixing them with a healthy does of reggae and Ska has always been on the agenda of Nick Morales and co. from No Snow/No Alps. “Just Rock” consists of 5 infectious tracks that left us wanting for more, and quite frankly we don’t see why it shouldn’t! “Taking my Time” was an instant hit on Maltese Radio stations, and climbed to number one the local charts in the space of a few weeks! These guys can truly get a hook going into your head, and although No Snow/No Alps might sound a bit different from the rest of our repertoire, we’re really proud to have them in the party. They show what Reciprocal Records have been since the very beginning: We’re quite open to anything if it sounds good to our ears. Don’t just get “Just Rock”…keep watch on the guys… we’re sure they have more stuff to keep us bouncing up and down! On and on Even with regards to artwork, this album breaks away from the usual rules. Tracks sound raw and have been recorded without too much attention to detail. On and On… gives away the band’s 3-piece live feel, and serves to show what the band sounds like on stage. BNI’s fast-paced 2/4 beat remains at the forefront but Reggae and Ska remain present. Lyrical content is even more focused on the individual’s thoughts and alternates between the positive and negative aspects of life. Each copy of this Cd album has a different cover artwork, and comes in a retro 7? Cd Sleeve. Silent Frequency Silent Frequency was one of the first records first put out by Reciprocal Records. Upon listening to Totema`s debut promo, one immediately realizes that this album is the fruit of a very talented group of individuals. Silent Frequency is at the very least a musical treat that your ears will definitively thank you for. Totema`s original sound was a very refreshing welcome to the local scene at the time, not to mention the degree of dedication and professionalism that is displayed in this promo. The instruments and vocals are rich in both originality and harmony, with just the right measure of thought provoking lyrics. Totema had gone from being a garage band jamming and having fun in front of a few devoted followers, to the very gifted band they had evolved into this record. Sadly, Totema had decided to call it a day for many reasons, but we still think this is a very important local record to have. Their frequency might be a silent one, but it’s a powerful one nonetheless... Skaccomatto The I Skandal have been seen playing in the local live circuit for almost 10 years, but it wasn’t until Dino Mifsud Lepre took skin-hitting duties that the band decided to record again. After the release of the disastrous promo “Under the same sky”, the I Skandal decided to get locked in their garage, get drunk, discuss, listen to music and occasionally write a new song. The result was the highly acclaimed “Skaccomatto” recorded at Hell Next Door Studios, and masterly crafted by Steve “Lombardo”. The I Skandal take a ska-punk direction here, and you can hear the influences of Jamaican ska everywhere here. You can hear the horns almost on every tune here, thanks to the likes of Ruth on Saxaphone, Nico on Trombone, and Keith “Pini” Catania on the Trumpet. Fronted by JP “iz-Zghiru” on Vocals and Bass, and side-kicked by Fre on guitars, “Skaccomatto” brought ska-punk to the forefront of the Maltese Punk scene. So get out those dancing shoes, your trusty pork-pie hat, and get skanking!