BRIAN VASSALLO: FLASHBACK
September 2006
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.
Recommended weblink: www.brianvassallo.com
