In 2006, M.I.A burst onto the scene with her Mercury Prize nominated album Arular. The classic Kala followed on from this success, and was ranked number 1 album in 2007 by Rolling Stone. Unable to gain a visa to the U.S, she chose to produce the album in various locations around the globe and the electronic rebel draws on this diversity creating a sound that is at once her own.

Using this staggered production, she creates an intense and clustered experience which is hard to become attuned to at first, blowing you away after another listen. Tamil, Urumee drums are used in ‘Boyz‘ and ‘Bird Flu‘. Samples from Sri Lankan language films accompany the booming, syncopated percussion of bamboo sticks in ‘Bamboo Banga‘. Her time in Bollywood Studies influenced ‘Jimmy‘, an inspired cover of a number from 80’s Bollywood film – ‘Disco Dancer’, a cheesy, Asian-pop, dance track with disco strings, brilliant! As well as her sometimes overused MCing, M.I.A. utilises her unique, albeit flat voice to great effect in ‘20 Dollar‘ and ‘The Turn‘, which is an enthralling electronic, dream-like ballad.

Her music doesn’t just portray an urge to bring different sounds and experiences together but also carries with it a message. ‘20 Dollar’ is influenced by her time in Liberia, reflecting the price of an AK-47 there. In ‘Paper Planes‘ – the best track on the album – she samples in gun shots which, followed by the ring of a cash register, tells of what the U.S. thinks of immigrants and their stance of the weapons trade.

Working with the likes of Timbaland and Diplo, the success of this album may not have been surprising. It is her bright, larger than life personality that really shines through though. This, for her, is not just music but a story of her life and influences. No one else could create this, a must have.

Words Tariq Desai
M.I.A myspace