Australian-born, London-based producer Mall Grab (AKA Jordon Alexander) made a name for himself with his brand of lo-fi electronic music, dabbling across a spectrum of house, synth-pop, and techno. His debut album ‘What I Breathe’, arrives via his own label, Looking For Trouble, and sees the Newcastle native continue to push genre boundaries. Exploring emotive electronics and stirring energies, Mall Grab demonstrates his diverse ear for music on each track of the LP through pushing boundaries — an approach that has become synonymous with the prolific producer’s sound.
With 13 tracks and a running time of just over an hour, there’s a lot to be shown on this journey. Fans have been lucky enough justify have been treated to a few single releases over the past couple of months, but there is so much more left to explore on ‘What I Breathe’. The opening track “Hand In Hand Through Wonderland” sets the tone of the album with atmospheric production, easing listeners into the new world. Yet, the jump into “I Can Remember It So Vividly” transports one to a 2am rave. It’s fast-paced with the signature Mall Grab elements audiences have come to love.
“It’s the high-level production that allows the album to move seamlessly between tracks without the listener realising.”
The tracks that have been released as singles — “Spirit Wave”, “Breathing” and “Metaphysical” — prove the loudest, and boldest part of the album; they stand out as a club-ready anthems with sharp lyrics and brass production. Although they each stand out on their own, the still manage to form a cohesive project alongside the album’s other offerings. Speaking of the LP, Mall Grab shares the intention behind this: “There are a lot of familiar sounds on this album that my listeners and followers have become accustomed to and joined me in the deep dive. Elements of emotional but hard and pumping club music are intertwined with house, jungle, rave and grime.”
This interconnection of genres becomes more evident as you listen through the album. ‘What I Breathe’ showcases Mall Grab’s ability to make music for a variety of audiences, while also showing everyone the vast scope of what he can do. “Patience” is a standout track nearing the record’s halfway mark, and features the only female vocalist featured on the record, Nia Archives. It is soothing and energetic at the same time, and drawing similarities to to female-led releases from Flight Facilities. The track explores the genre-fluidity of the album, and attempts to target those who aren’t into the heavier house, jungle, rave and grime music, in a more accessible, commercial style.
There is so much to enjoy about ‘What I Breathe’, but it’s the high-level production that allows the album to move seamlessly between tracks without the listener realising. Each track holds its own and could easily be released as a single, however the curation of the track list and the pairing of styles are perfect. It’s an hour of high-energy soundscapes that gives us the first taste of what will surely be a massive electronic career for Mall Grab.