Mura Masa - Mura Masa

Mura Masa

Mura Masa

2017

Spotify

Multicultural London is the basis for this record, or at least the basis producer Alex Crossan (Mura Masa) has publically stated. It's a bold claim for the 21 year old to make, but with Mura Masa's really distinct and varied style it makes a lot of sense. Mura Masa is electronica for a new generation, one where genre lines have blurred almost to the point of being indistinguishable. Hip Hop plays a huge role on this record with features like A$AP Rocky and Desiigner. Desiigner actually brings one of his best features to date on "All Around the World" giving up much of the "panda" bullshit that made him famous in the first place. Yet he still maintains that weirdness and is able to drop more than a few Trap lines throughout the song. It is interesting how low key the album is, really leaning back and allowing the music to sort of unfold in front of you. A song like "1 Night" with Charli XCX which is one of the more classically upbeat tracks still has this edge to it as well as this attitude like, get on board or GTFO. "Firefly" which has Nao on the vocals is similar in style with a pulsing beat but one that knows from the outset that this music is cool and you should get on board. Christine and the Queens as well as Damon Alban also make sure that the album maintains a heavy does of indie cred, and to his credit Mura Masa always blends his features into his style rather than conforming to theirs. 

The laid back attitude however doesn't always work. "NOTHING ELSE!" is a bit odd and clunky and Jamie Lidell sounds like he is doing a pretty bad impression of Justin Timberlake. "helpline" however has this great double-time percussion that makes it one of the most upbeat songs on the record. Yet everything in Mura Masa's world is always a bit distorted a bit off and that is what makes his music so interesting. Christine and The Queens features on "Second 2 None" and not only is her voice wanting and soulful but when Mura Masa chops them up for the chorus it just sounds fantastic. It is a track you can never full get your head around but find yourself coming back again and again to it. The one thing missing however seems to be some bigness, it is the only time Mura Masa really shows his age. Because his production duties have mostly been him alone working things out He sometimes misses the opportunity to let the music be big like it's sweeping across a filed ensuring everyone close can hear it. You want him to kick down the door sometimes rather than just a gentle knock. The albums closer "Blu" really represents this, Damon Alban seems to just absolutely sleepwalk and though the track is varied, it never really connects to anything. It is a solid debut record, but there is clearly some development that can still happen for Mura Masa. 

7.0 out of 10