Album Notes

Skorba is a mediterranean mosaic of music described by Lino Vella (editor of The Maltese Herald) as the Music about Ancient Malta, influenced by ancient and modern Greek, Turkish, Arabic, Spanish and Sephardic traditional musics drawing heavily on Maltese ghana Bormliza and Western music sensibilities.

The band was formed two years ago to represent in a fresh and unique way the cultural history of the Maltese Archipelago through songs written in Maltese. The compositions draw upon musical influences that reflect the Mediterranean and European cultures that have impacted upon Malta and Gozo over the centuries but significantly they come from a deep love of the homeland on Andy’s part as leader and originator of the band.

Andy sings in a vocal style that is inspired by the street vendors of Malta and the Ghanejja Bormliza (trad Maltese folk singers who move through the whole scale including microtones). His voice carries across the audience and will transport you back to the Temple period. His vocals have been rapturously enjoyed by people from Malta, the Middle East, Turkey, Kurdistan, Iraq, Bulgaria, Lebanon, the Sub-Continent and Israel. This huge synchronicity speaks volumes about the universality of his skill and style and the unifying influence of Skorba's music.