Mali Mali is a relatively new Auckland-based three-piece headed by self-described singer/songwriter Ben Tolich. After parting with his band early last year, Tolich decided to focus on music with a rawer, more authentic sound. He has since teamed up with bandmates Joel Greatbatch and Peter Reid to bring his vision alive. The release of their sophomore EP Brotherly proves that not only do Mali Mali encompass everything that Tolich initially envisioned for his musical direction, but that the boys have copious amounts of talent and the obvious potential to take Mali Mali as far as they dare.
Tolich counts Bon Iver (who, incidentally, happen to be personal heroes of mine) amongst his inspirations, and their persuasion throughout the EP is transparent, from vocal styling to instrumental composition. The production of the album is decidedly rough, but the style perfectly accompanies the intentionally unrefined sound of both Tolich’s seductive vocals and the rough-and-tumble nature of the instruments.
The vocals of the opening track Your Glowing Skin are charming in that they seem to be fighting between an obvious British influence, and the Kiwi roots that Tolich cannot or will not shake. The highlight of the album for me is the second track Roman’s Hawk. The song embodies just the right mix of defeat, triumph, sensitivity and recklessness to be beautiful.
The lyrics throughout the entire EP hark back to the emotionally charged post-punk days of the late 1970’s with lines like “you were so much nicer when your heart was broken/when your heart was torn apart”. Despite the fact that a lot of Mali Mali’s musical influences are evident in every breath and every strum, there is something very fresh and prototypical in their music as well. Their seemingly innate talent of taking what they love from others and making it their own is to be respected just as much as their musical talent itself.
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About the author sidvicious
One of my favourite quotes ever was by a character I hated in a movie I will never understand. “I will be dying and so will you, and so will everyone here. We’re all hurtling towards death, yet here we are for the moment, alive. Each of us knowing we’re going to die, each of us secretly believing we won’t.” If you know who said it, and if you wished it was someone more inspiring, then we might be soulmates. I love music, although that defines nothing about me, because who doesn’t? Favourite artists include Architecture in Helsinki, The Maccabees, The Beatles, The Smiths, Born Ruffians, Joy Division, The Drums, The Rifles, Say Anything, The Libertines, Eminem, Shout Out Louds, Darwin Deez, The Knife, Vampire Weekend, The Cure, The xx, Hellogoodbye, Crystal Castles, MGMT, Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, The Naked and Famous,
