Matangi

The fourth record from Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam brings the usual amount of eclecticism with her concoction of western EDM smattered with elements of world music.

The strums of a harp and a hearty ‘om’ open the album before leading into M.I.A.’s singsong lyrics on ‘Karmageddon’. After this rather peaceful opening, the record can be a somewhat disorienting experience.

M.I.A.’s voice appears and disappears behind the constant changing beats and high-pitched whistles. With a decent pair of headphones or speakers, the album is an enjoyable listen with plenty of nooks and crannies –  however without a proper sound system, it runs the risk of sounding too busy.

The mood shifts so frequently that it almost becomes a struggle to stick in until ‘Come Walk With Me’ appears. One of the singles off the album, it shows M.I.A. still has her pop sensibilities well in check with its slow building, organ-driven chorus.

‘Bad Girls’, the first single from Matangi, came in at number 99 on the Hottest 100 this year. It feels like one of the most complete songs on the record, as it’s without the capricious drops and peaks abundant in the rest of the tracks.

The frenetic nature of the first half of the album entirely dissipates by album closer ‘Sexodus’. Although Matangi consistently provokes thoughts about individuality and politics, this is the only track where M.I.A. explicitly questions her audience, asking, “Why do you want it all?”

At times disorienting but always eclectic, M.I.A continues to challenge the preconceived notions of what hip hop and dance music can be.

Listen to ‘Bad Girls’ from Matangi here:

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