END OF THE EARTH: ALBUM REVIEW
I remember it very clearly when MAVI’s first project Let the Sun Talk was released. My friends were blasting it from the speaker in the tiny dorm room that we all called home. After that first listen, the dense and earthly feeling of the album follows you everywhere. Similarly, MAVI’s most recent release, End of the Earth, carries that same powerful feeling. It provides a lens into a whole different universe.
“TIME TRAVEL” is a light, flowy introduction to the album, transporting you to an otherworldly place. This song sets the foundation for the nostalgia that you will feel throughout the rest of the project. It’s almost as if you’re in the same spaceship as MAVI, entering a new galaxy, a new beginning. The smoothness of the song is unmatched by any feeling. The song ends with such a sweet touch—listening to a voicemail his grandma left for him. It personally brought me immense joy and love as I reflected on my own grandma’s voice. The song draws attention to what matters most, which we may often forget about in the briskness of life.
Listeners feel a bit more grounded in “THOUSAND MILES.” MAVI’s lines are introspective, coupled with a steady beat. The album keeps picking up as it progresses through its tracks. “METHODS” moves quicker. It juxtaposes the last two tracks and makes you crave more. Once again, everything slows down in the following track “LIFE WE LIVE.” The feeling of reminiscence returns as MAVI’s voice and rich instrumentation fills your body with longing. It leaves you wanting more and more.
The final track “TOWN CRIER” is my absolute favorite of the entire EP. For the last few days, I’ve had it on loop. The song is crafted so brilliantly. MAVI creates an immense feeling of comfort. But at the same time, the song makes you spin in circles as you ruminate his lyrics. There are so many points in the song that make me feel like I should be somewhere else, doing something else. Towards the end, however, there is acceptance. MAVI instills an understanding of ephemerality within his listeners. Towards the conclusion, you begin to accept and appreciate the transience of life. This song is a meditation, a welcoming of the future. It bottles up the essence of life in a matter of minutes.
End of the Earth is a melange of the past and present. It paradoxically, sequentially and non-sequentially, develops this feeling of longing. The Shel Silverstein-inspired album cover is just another nostalgic element to his work. At the same time, the EP welcomes the future and comes to terms with the condition of the world. MAVI’s work is always life-altering, and I expected nothing less when I first hit the play button.
