What I Breathe is the debut studio album by Australian record producer Jordon Alexander under the pseudonym Mall Grab.[1][2] It was released on his record label Looking for Trouble on 5 August 2022.[3][4] It topped the UK Dance Albums Chart.[5] It received generally favorable reviews from critics.[6]

Background

What I Breathe was produced by Mall Grab over the course of 18 months.[7] It features guest appearances from Turnstile vocalist Brendan Yates, Nia Archives, Novelist, and D Double E.[8] Mall Grab's own vocals are also featured on the songs "Without the Sun" and "Lost in Harajuku".[9] "Lost in Harajaku" was written in a Tokyo hotel room, using GarageBand.[10] The album's cover art is a photograph featuring six Golden Retrievers.[10]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic69/100[6]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[11]
Beats Per Minute63%[12]
DIY[13]
The Line of Best Fit8/10[14]
Pitchfork5.8/10[15]

According to the review aggregator Metacritic, What I Breathe received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 69 out of 100 from 5 critic scores.[6]

Paul Simpson of AllMusic called the album "a somewhat nostalgic but still forward-thinking trip through his various interests."[11] He added, "Barely containing anything that could be described as laid-back, carefree house, the tracks are generally vivid and brimming with energy."[11] Josh LaClair of Beats Per Minute commented that "the first Mall Grab album is decidedly too busy and scattered to be much of anything but a letdown for most fans."[12] Philip Sherburne of Pitchfork stated, "Seven years into a career spent flipping familiar references into crowd-pleasing shapes, it's still not clear who [Jordon] Alexander really is, beyond the sum of his influences."[15]

Track listing

What I Breathe track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Hand in Hand Through Wonderland"5:28
2."I Can Remember It So Vividly"4:28
3."Love Reigns"4:39
4."Understand" (featuring Brendan Yates)3:44
5."Patience" (featuring Nia Archives)4:18
6."Without the Sun"4:27
7."Spirit Wave"4:25
8."Breathing"4:47
9."Intercity Relations"4:46
10."Times Change" (featuring Novelist and D Double E)3:05
11."Distant Conversation"5:17
12."Metaphysical"5:01
13."Lost in Harajuku"4:37
Total length:60:03

Charts

Chart performance for What I Breathe
Chart (2022) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[16] 8
UK Albums (OCC)[17] 51
UK Dance Albums (OCC)[5] 1

References

  1. ^ Moore, Sam (5 May 2022). "Mall Grab announces debut album 'What I Breathe', featuring Turnstile's Brendan Yates and Nia Archives". NME. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  2. ^ Breihan, Tom (5 May 2022). "Mall Grab – "Understand" (Feat. Turnstile's Brendan Yates)". Stereogum. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  3. ^ Ross, Gemma (5 May 2022). "Mall Grab announces debut album, 'What I Breathe'". Mixmag. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  4. ^ Shopmaker, Zoey (5 May 2022). "Mall Grab collaborates with Nia Archives, D Double E on debut album, What I Breathe". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Official Dance Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  6. ^ a b c "What I Breathe by Mall Grab". Metacritic. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  7. ^ Pilley, Max (1 August 2022). "Mall Grab: a hard-hitting debut with added Turnstile and Nia Archives". NME. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  8. ^ Slingerland, Calum (5 May 2022). "Mall Grab Gets Turnstile's Brendan Yates, Novelist for Debut Album 'What I Breathe'". Exclaim!. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  9. ^ Ryce, Andrew (23 August 2022). "Mall Grab - What I Breathe". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  10. ^ a b Caryl, Kristan J (10 August 2022). "Mall Grab is ready for the next level". DJ Mag. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  11. ^ a b c Simpson, Paul. "What I Breathe - Mall Grab". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  12. ^ a b LaClair, Josh (16 August 2022). "Album Review: Mall Grab – What I Breathe". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  13. ^ Shortridge, Dylan (5 August 2022). "Mall Grab - What I Breathe". DIY. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  14. ^ McDonald, Sophia (1 August 2022). "Australian producer Mall Grab delivers a confident and assured debut with What I Breathe". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  15. ^ a b Sherburne, Philip (6 August 2022). "Mall Grab: What I Breathe". Pitchfork. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  16. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  17. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_I_Breathe
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