released: march 12, 2026

genre: house / broken beat

from: london, uk

label: touching bass

a few thoughts: artist, selector and dj shy one has been an established voice of the electronic / house scene in london over the past decade or so. each and every release, as well as every dj set, draws us close to her music inspirations and the legacy this city has for continuously making innovative, boundary-pushing music. mali is an excellent addition to her musical story. with its 10-tracks of incredibly dynamic and groovy house and broken-beat rhythms, she traverses rich, textured soundscapes with thumping, drum-led grooves that are infectious and utterly hypnotic. after the lush and reflective “evidence of my love affair”, the album shifts into gear on “i can tell” featuring george riley, with an incredible groove and a piano-led melody, in addition to george’s lush vocals. the acid-house synth-led beat on “loosen up” is a frantic and hypnotic moment on the album, while “moonlight” features stunning vocals from private joy, over a colourful, piano-led groove that so soulful and beautiful. “full circle” is a lush, piano-driven track with a subtle but groovy bassline. “driving on sand” features vocals from the legend steve spacek, in a jittery and utterly mesmerising broken-beat rhythm, making it a highlight on the album for me. the infectious basslines and thumping energy of “nort wess” are both incredible, while rhythmic beat and groove on “same new song” make it another standout for me. james massiah’s verse on the engaging “16 hours” is fun, with a playful energy to it, while “live dis ting (belt drives)” closes the album out with a groovy and soulful cut, capturing the colourful and textured sounds that represent the moody and atmospheric energy of this city at times. the key-driven melodies are lush, and make it a perfect way to close out this album. mali is an exceptional album, celebrating the legacy and sound of the black british diaspora in london, while providing gems for the dancefloor.

the album: