Flashback

September 2006 . Author © Michael Bugeja .

     

Two albums in the space of eight years may seem a bit sparse in terms of output to some, but in Brian Vassallo’s world, quality and essence have always been at the helm of each and every piece of work he does. And if you’re thinking you’ve heard of Vassallo somewhere or other, think back to 1998, when he released Beyond. The album has been critically acclaimed both locally and abroad, mainly for its electronically constructed cosmic ambience, and continues to attract a variety of audiences – from New Age to Chill-out to Ambient. Incidentally, Vassallo was also among the first Maltese musicians to establish an online presence with a sizeable foreign following, and it is the feedback he has received through the internet that has inspired and motivated the release of flashback, his second album.

When compared to Beyond’s cushioned layers of soaring digital sound, Flashback is however, something a mixed bag. For his second outing, Vassallo, a big Jean-Michel Jarre fan by his own admission, has opted to alter his vision beyond the ethereal and infuse more rhythm in his music. The result, somewhat inevitably, bears several references to the French electronic wizard’s style (particularly opening track Senses) but the presence of more prominent beats is more akin to Orbital’s epic electronica than Jarre’s soundscapes. More importantly, however, Vassallo has successfully preserved his own timbre by balancing the various aspects of his new record into one eclectic yet cohesive electronic expedition that should increase both his profile and following significantly.