172: Mal Devisa - Skyline Arms-Reach Out

tom johnson

25 Jun 2025 — 2 min read

Earlier this week we were tagged in a couple of social posts from the excellent Topshelf Records, who were sharing a little reminder of Mal Devisa's astonishing Kiid LP, a collection of songs first released in 2016, and then pressed to vinyl by the label in 2019 – and one that we threw our whole weight of praise behind. A quote from us now sits on that same album's front cover, in fact. A short sentence that reads: "simply one of the most incredible voices to ever sing a song".

It's a bold proclamation but one that I wholeheartedly stand by, for Deja Carr, the vision behind the Mal Devisa project, possesses a voice that remains a thing of absolute wonder. Excellent news then that Topshelf have today announced a sprawling new collection of Carr's work, an "anthology" of collected works called Palimpsesa that gathers up old recordings and newly-refreshed versions of unreleased works.

Spread across four sides, and collating 29 songs, the album is said to span jazz, folk, hip-hop, and experimental forms; the latter of those undoubtedly leaning more into Mal's work as a poet across various disciplines.

Alongside the announcement arrive two of the album's tracks: the urgent hip-hop of 'Old Intro' and the instantly gripping 'Skyline Arms-Reach Out'. A scattered, almost playful undercurrent of instrumentation sits beneath the latter, a subtle but solid bed that Carr's staggering vocal rises up from, bold and true and completely gripping. A richly personal, jubilant celebration of love.

On "Skyline Arms-Reach Out" I shifted the lyrics and meaning to honor Blackness in all of its forms. I had this existential moment where I felt like I needed a song about Black joy and love and resilience. The song feels rich in emotion, exactly how I felt in the moment."

Pre-order 'Palimpsesa' on Bandcamp here

three / six / five is a daily music-sharing project from gold flake paint; read more about the idea here

If you enjoy this content please consider a paid subscription ~ or buy GFP a cup of coffee via ko-fi

E m b r a c e
S i n c e r i t y

171: OK Cool - Safety Car

It's been a long time coming, but having been kicking around the scruffy edges of the Chicago DIY scene, and releasing three EPs, over the past five years, OK Cool are finally set to release their debut full-length. Called Chit Chat, and released on August 1, the album

Album Round-up: 20/06/2025

Welcome to another album round-up! There's a few really lovely releases out today, from earthy peacefulness to polished exuberance. As always, dig in below and I hope you find something new to discover here... * Scratch It by U.S. Girls In just ten days, Meg Remy and her

170: múm - Mild At Heart

I have a memory seared into my brain. I was on a trip to Iceland Airwaves, and had travelled from Reykjavik to Akureyri for a couple of days away from the capital city. I'd spent the day on a coach trip, bathing in thermal springs, eating food roasted

In Conversation: S.G. Goodman

“The strangeness of time. Not in its passing, which can seem infinite, like a tunnel whose end you can’t see, whose beginning you’ve forgotten, but in the sudden realisation that something finite, has passed, and is irretrievable.” - Joyce Carol Oates, Foxfire * Time never feels more erratic than

Read more

171: OK Cool - Safety Car

Album Round-up: 20/06/2025

170: múm - Mild At Heart

In Conversation: S.G. Goodman