It’s difficult to categorise and label Mana Tapu’s EP, amusingly named Timpana.
This band’s music might be rooted in reggae and ska, but it also draws inspiration from a host of other sounds and genres that run the gamut from funk to blues, a little bit of punk and even that latino vibe.
And it does so successfully, making Timpana an incredibly fun fusion. In fact, if I were asked to describe the sound of summer and good vibes I’d say that this band encapsulates it pretty neatly.
As bands go, Mana Tapu is pretty eclectic. The six-piece outfit is made up of Maltese musicians Frans Darmanin on bass and Dario Vella C on vocals and guitar, with Pupachile on vocals and lyrics; Jogy Bo on vocals, guitars and lyrics; Tete (aka Camacho Criminal) on vocals; and Andrew McGrath on drums adding the international flavour.
The amount of band members is reflected in the richness of its music. Each track boasts multi-layered arrangements with some of the intros kicking off simply and escalating into a kaleidoscope of vibrant sounds soon enough.
The band started out playing casual acoustic jams on our beaches some three years ago. After winning the Rookies and the Hard Rock Cafe battles of the bands, Mana Tapu grew into the outfit that was responsible for some pretty memorable gigs last summer.
And now, as the musicians gear up for what seems to be a pretty hectic season of gigging, comes this six-track EP.