Lately I’ve been feeling nostalgic for a time in the future that looks familiar, when the sight of a maskless crowd compels me to stay instead of running away. “Room Full of Rothko” might play on the Sunday afternoon before Labor Day at an outdoor venue spruced with tropical plants. Sandals, glitter, and ear plugs stick to the floor made adhesive by spilled drinks. That’s the sight and smell of a collective triumph over a weekend hangover by veteran ravers. At that moment in time, I might recall the memory of sitting on my couch, envying the interior of a DJ’s home on my laptop screen (I mean, have you seen Carl Cox’s record collection?).
Unlike so many releases, Vol. 20 by Mall Grab / Jordon Alexander does not dwell on the sullen emotional landscape of 2020. Instead, it refracts our attention to the dancefloor of the future.
His masterful sense of what’s danceable crosses genre lines. “Room Full of Rothko” is galvanizing yet relaxing, where bopping along softly to the tune is an invitation to settle in. A fickle bassline perks up the ears instantly, and when the mid-frequency chords start syncopating, it’s time to move. The effects and ambient sounds in this track are subtle, adding splashes of color and warmth. Around four minutes thirty, the track recedes to focus on the catchy three-chord progression and charming voice sample, finally bringing all the elements together in a drop to recharge for the final minutes. Listening closely, the chords pan across your ears, building a surreal physical anticipation for when the bassline and kick drum return and snap you up. It depicts a sloppy afternoon with friends where intensity is absent– only camaraderie and forgiveness amidst sun-kissed exhaustion and the elastic hours of swingtime.
Mall Grab’s drums are always captivating and more complex than at first listen. “III Pt. 2” begins with a breakbeat featuring a resonant kick and whispering hi-hats. An airy pad sequence joins in and makes room for a toying vibraphone melody that helps us lose a sense of time. When the breaks drop down, a round kickdrum envelopes the crunchy chaos of snare, cymbals and hi-hats. The vibraphone stays around for comedic relief.
Frequently in Mall Grab’s creations, each layer of sound often holds a distinct rhythmic feel of its own and receives its 15-second headbanging spotlight. With elements of acid, house, breaks, industrial, Volume 20 is a veritable dance album that allows us to hope.
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-Lina Xing
