Mali Mali

I’m not sold on the band’s name nor the album title but that really doesn’t matter a shower of shit – because I’m totally/utterly sold on the sound. Sweeping and majestic and there’s a touch of David Byrne to the voice and Ben Tolich (Mali Mali) is one clever fucker. Shit this is good!

Gather ‘Round The Gooseclock – despite its title (fuckit, what’s in a name?!) – has been doing the rounds for a while now; a regular friend to my stereo. Check out the video for Magnetic North  – cool vid, good song.

Gentle acoustic songs that are not obvious and predictable, songs that search out to move beyond the confines of just being a pop song. Songs that, at the same time, are happy – and proud – to be perfect, clever little pop songs.

Tolich has played in a few bands and Mali Mali has a previous EP but this is the debut full-lengther. Helping out this sound are multi-instrumentalist Peter Reid and drummer James Bignall. Their work is terrific but it’s the voice and writing of Tolich that makes this album for me.

Good Arvo is my favourite – but there’s not a dud on this album. It’s all charming and feels effortless. And yet there’s such craft to these tunes, tiny exquisite examples of what a good song can be and where it can go.

Perhaps what I like best about this is I can hear influences and touchstones that I wouldn’t care for personally – The National, Avalanche City, The Postal Service – and the finished product transcends all of that. It stands as its own thing. A really wonderful little record. Something charming and lovely and real. Something pleasantly surprising. Something to play over and over and never tire of.  This is a firm favourite for me.