Songs of contemplation

I’m sure everyone has heard at least one album that grips you almost immediately from start to finish. One of the most impressive records I’ve heard in recent years was Brikkuni’s debut, Kuntrabanda.

We just like what we do and we do what we like

Brimming with boisterous tunes laced with sharp wit and a very homely feel by way of a traditional tilt to the music, it has occupied a great deal of my music-listening time (and that of many others, I’m sure) since it was released three years ago.

It is therefore easy to imagine the kind of anticipation with which Brikkuni’s sophomore album Trabokk has been expected by those already affected by the band’s particular take on contemporary folk.

Despite less than 24 hours having passed since its official launch, Trabokk had already been the topic of countless Facebook posts for several weeks, the interest boosted even further with the welcome posting of a previously unheard track off the album by the name of Tiddi X-Xemx Fuq Din L-Għodwa Moħlija.

A slow burning gem of a song, it is one of several (similarly magnificent) quiet(er) moments on the new album, contrasting sharply with the largely upbeat slant of the band’s debut album.

“The band has obviously grown a lot since Kuntrabanda,” frontman Mario Vella explains.

Indeed it has. Besides Vella, the current line-up also features Danjeli on keyboards, guitarists Steve ‘Delli’ Delia and Matthew Cuschieri, Michael Galea on drums, Thomas Cuschieri on bass, Roberta Attard on violin, Mark Farrugia on trumpet, multi-instrumentalist Lukas Grech (the latest addition to the band) and two backing vocalists.

“As I see it, the band is in a transition period, evolving from the more shambolic style of our first album towards the pronounced contemplative nature inhabiting Trabokk’s ambience.”

In simpler terms, where Kuntrabanda was a protest album openly criticising social issues, bar the odd love song, Trabokk is essentially a more introspective album.

“There are still some connections to the first album,” Vella confirms, “but as far as arrangements go, the approach on Trabokk is different”.

One of the main aims this time was to give the music more prominence.

“Something that irritated me about Kuntrabanda was that people focused too much on the vocals and lyrics rather than the music or the song as a whole.

“What we’ve tried to do now is to push the vocals a step back in the mix to allow the music more prominence.”

But before you might go thinking the notorious Brikkuni have toned down their act, he quickly adds:

“Where we go with the third record is anyone’s guess.”

Vella’s words are complemented by Danjeli’s. The band’s keyboard player is quick to point out that “this doesn’t mean we’re moving towards making quieter music. We basically do what we want, which is why we don’t necessarily subscribe to a particular style.”

Guitarist Delli says it’s “about finding a balance or even the right approach to infuse elements that one might not expect to hear in a Brikkuni song”.

He mentions electronic sounds and even reggae elements as an example, both of which found their way into the music mix that features on the band’s latest offering.

But was it difficult not to succumb to the temptation of replicating those elements that made their previous album so popular? Apparently not, as Vella bluntly puts it.

“I feel groups that go through the hassle of writing ‘within confines’ ultimately must love that sort of thing. It just isn’t how we do things – we just like what we do and we do what we like.”

As to infusing different elements, Danjeli is equally adamant that this has no real bearing on their music. “In the end, regardless of whether it’s pop, rock or folk – good music is good music no matter what.”

That may be true, but it certainly hasn’t been easy on all fronts for Brikkuni. While their popularity is evident in the growing masses that throng to every one of its live performances, radio airplay has so far only come via a few dedicated radio shows and it is only fairly recently that the band got to perform its music on local TV.

“We made a conscientious decision,” Vella concedes.

“We believe we are prepared to face audiences that aren’t used to our kind of music and lyrics.

“Despite our songs not falling under what most radios would usually deem acceptable, we strongly feel there is still space for our songs within the mainstream market.”

Clearly, as Danjeli confirms, this is something they are all in favour of.

“We would like our music to be heard by as many people as possible and using the available media is an effective way of doing that.”

I’m curious to know if they feel their success has perhaps inspired others to follow in their footsteps.

Danjeli doesn’t think so. “I hate to admit it, but there still aren’t that many contemporary bands and artists who sing in Maltese.”

Vella is also of the same predicament, but has his own theory as to what lies behind this ‘drought’. “Beyond all the romanticism that might be attributed to singing in one’s native tongue, I believe that what keeps local bands and artists from writing and singing in Maltese is the illusion that they will one day be successful abroad.”

Vella says he doesn’t quite understand why a foreign audience or market would embrace a Maltese band offering them the same music that countless other bands from that same country probably already do.

There are exceptions, of course, as Danjeli eagerly point outs, namely the several Maltese metal bands that have successfully made their mark at an international level.

He is also quite clear as to why Brikkuni prefer to sing in Maltese, which is essentially because “our audience is Maltese and we feel we can connect to them more effectively”.

Aside their own music, is there a particular tune from the Maltese songbook Brikkuni would love to have written?

New Cuorey’s L-Aħħar Bidwi f’Wied Il-Għasel is a choice they all agree on, to which Vella is quick to add, “but not Baglioni’s terrible version of it, that’s for sure”.

Do Brikkuni have any aspirations to take their music beyond our shores or are they happy staying put?

“I have no wish to up and leave Malta,” Vella affirms. “But if it’s about exporting our music, and considering that there’s at least half-a-million Maltese people living abroad, we’re open to offers if anyone wants to invite us to perform in Canada or Australia.”

www.myspace.com/brikkuni

bugeja.michael@gmail.com