Dekmantel Festival 2018: Five key performances

Playing the opening slot on Saturday, Mafalda smiled from ear to ear, singing along to beautiful soul tunes that split the difference between rare groove and classic party DJing. A heavy section saw her move from a broken beat cut into a space disco tune released this year, Emanative’s “Planet B.” In Mafalda’s hands, these modern tunes felt anachronistic, smoothly fitting into a soulful continuum of Rhodes, funk bass lines and warm vinyl crackle. Late into her two-hour set, she played De La Soul’s Smokey Robinson-sampling “Breakadawn,” then wrapped up a suite of romantic songs with Marvin Gaye’s “My Love Is Waiting.” The label Mafalda runs with Floating Points and a gang of London diggers operates with a simple mission: “To spread love all over the land in general and happiness in dance floors in particular.” Each time she plays, these lofty goals feel just a little bit closer.

Words by Ray Philp & Matt McDermott for RA.

Full feature via RA here.