Album Review: M.I.A. - Matangi

A dubby minimal breakdown at standard intro length signals the start of M.I.A.'s fourth album, and it's surprisingly subdued and minimal. This creates a false sense of security however – it's actually unsettling when the title track immediately follows, with the rhythmic drum circle broken up with short sharp, eardrum penetrating samples. By the time the track gets going, the tempo and frenetic energy continue to build until a massive tempo drop at the end brings it all crashing down in its ultimate climax.

This production style creates the texture for the record, alongside the familiar elements of big drums, exotic instrument samples and her familiar vocal style. It's a hard record to get your head around the first listen. Warriors is a great example of this – there's barely a consistent drum beat for more than a few bars and it seems to just start over every minute or so. It's the first instant of another unusual production flourish where there's a really over-the-top vocal overdub like it's a radio announcer or mixtape DJ spruiking over the top. It also happens when she delivers her anti-yolo reincarnation anthem Y.A.L.A (You Always Live Again).

Bad Girls has been out for so long that its familiarity makes it an obvious focal point of the album, but it also sits apart from most of the record due to it's much more simple arrangement and production.

It's an astonishing record that mashes so many ideas culturally and musically and builds on her already impressive discography in all the right ways.