Mal Not Bad (aka Theodora Mallory Fleming-Hauser) is an endearing artist in all true senses of the word. They may seem relatively low-key, but that makes discovering Mal’s music all the better. From previously working with the likes of Mk.gee, NoSo and Skullcrusher to co-directing their own music videos to self-producing their album at home and their deft abilities with pen in hand, Mal’s debut album ‘This Is Your New Life’ is not just a culmination of all they’ve done up until now, but the beginning of a new chapter which warrants their space among some of their biggest peers.
Fusing essences of Feist and SOAK in their distinct vocal delivery, the opening track ‘Far Gone’ is delightful. Its spacey reverbs, subtle harmonies and textural guitars are matched with lyrics which shed light on the loss that comes with growth; wholly embodying the album’s ethos of embracing patterns – learning which ones are worth keeping, which ones define us, and which ones we want to change. Hints of their Los Angeles music compatriots HAIM can be heard in the more polished following track ‘AP’ while ‘No Worries’ strips things back again with potent lyrics on the darker aspects of society, specifically how words can lose their power amongst seemingly never-ending cycles of negative news headlines and events: “It’s easy to speak up when there’s no kind of consequence / But that can be harmful and that can be frightening / Chaos comes calling when the words become meaningless.”
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‘Come On / Hard Times’ provides a stand out moment. Its arrangement may be simple, but this allows Mal’s elongated vocal melodies to glide with an air of tenderness and fragility that’s almost enchanting at points. However, by the time ‘Life’ comes around, everything changes. Acoustic guitars and breezy vibes are replaced with electronic beats and compressed synths, taking you from a cosy campfire to a sweaty gig venue in an instant. ‘Mustang’ ft. Junaco follows suit, channeling the likes of Chritine and The Queens and Romy with its atmospheric sonics and pensive lyrics – even the ‘Inst I’ interlude sounds like its from an entirely different planet compared to the track list’s predecessors.
But while this tale of two halves may muster confusion for some, it certainly makes Mal Not Bad all the more endearing. For an album which seeks to zoom out and above rather than swimming under chaos, Mal’s innate sense of sonic exploration and their curiosity to push their own boundaries makes ‘This Is Your New Life’ an album that teems with possibilities.
7/10
Words: Jamie Wilde
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