by Kris Handel (@khandel84)
Mamalarky is the self-titled debut of the Georgia via California and Texas quartet, which is filled with slinking grooves mixed with bright and flowing melodies that announce themselves loudly. Livvy Bennett’s vocals are a driving force in the pop concoction that pours forth, proving itself to be a surprising powerhouse collection of songs. Bennett and co. manage to traverse a varied path of styles and do so with a tact and precision that can be jaw-dropping from a relatively young band. The combination of swirling, occasionally stinging keyboard and flexible, crafty guitar work that drapes itself over each song, and a strong bounding rhythmic base creates a springboard for the vast psych-pop creativity that pours out of Mamalarky.
“Fury” introduces the record with a wild swirl provided by humming and wiggling keyboard work from Michael Hunter and furiously crunching chording from Bennett whose vocals stretch and ascend the chaos. Mamalarky manage to show off their musical prowess and strength within “Fury” but combine with a sort of agile grace that creates a lot of intrigue and nuance. “Almighty Heat” brightly pops with Bennett providing chiming and wavering guitar that adds a sharpness, slicing through billowing keyboards and the shuffling drum work of Dylan Hill. Mamalarky show off a quirky and playful mélange between a slightly funk inspired R&B slinkiness with an off kilter psychedelic touch that creates a confounding allure.
“You Make Me Smile” shows off a little bit of an acid jazz feel with sliding and bouncing bass from Noor Khan that intertwines with slinking guitar fills and Hunter’s twinkling keyboard. There is a hazy summer-like sweetness in the melodies at play here that come in effortless waves that are reminiscent of the dreamy sway of a band like Crumb. “Cosine” follows the path of a slow burner which provides a showcase of Bennet’s vocal range which has an impressive control and reach that works ever so well on top of an ethereal backing. The ability to so easily mesh instrumentally and create a tasteful groove is something that Mamalarky excel at which is so readily apparent in the aforementioned songs that add a nice moment of musical relaxation and release.
This debut shows off many angles of a band of many talents and an ability to create a peace amongst the unexpected oddities the world provides. Mamalarky flows from track to track yet each tune has something unique to express making everything sound fresh and exciting, with a brightness that is extremely alluring. The ability to express and meld so many styles and moods into something that has a mysterious yet lovely pull to it is mesmerizing and on full display on this charming record. Mamalarky have managed to produce an album that hits so many highs in such a short time that you will end up feeling sad that it must end, but the quirks and delights that are produced within will require many a joyful listen.