Alfa Mist — Variables — Album Review
Alternative | Jazz
Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple Music
Alfa Mist was an artist that I first properly listened to back in 2021, with the release of his fourth studio album Bring Backs. However, I had heard little tidbits of some of the material he had released prior. But one thing that all of Alfa Mist’s material had in common was the nocturnal ambience that was channeled through his jazz craft.
Upon listening to the aforementioned album, it was certainly one that grew on me after its release, and arguably continues to grow on me to this day. But hey; ambience can sometimes do that to a listener. In the case of Alfa Mist, this is an ethos that he seems to champion.
That being said, I was excited for the release of Alfa Mist’s fifth studio album, and the follow up to Bring Backs, which has been given the title of Variables.
In the case of this brand new album, the way I felt towards Variables on first listen, felt very similar to the way I felt towards Bring Backs early on. In other words, I feel that this album will definitely begin to grow on me overtime, much like how its predecessor did.
While Variables does enlist the talent of a good handful of features, I feel that the more instrumental cuts on the album offers the shining moments of the records. To no fault of the features, it feels like Alfa Mist does compromise his jazz aesthetic a little more. However, that isn’t to say that the features do their bit to add a bit more of a memorable grip to the project.
I also felt as if the runtime of the tracks on this album could’ve been spread a little more evenly. In other words, while some tracks do feel like they overstay their welcome the tiniest bit, other feel like they were cut too short. Though, having said that, the tracks that did wind up being the most memorable at this moment in time do happen to be some of the longer ones.
I admit, Variables did happen to come along at (yet another) busy period in my year, and thus, it has made it a more difficult one to review. However, I do still stand by the idea that this album will certainly grown on me in the same way that Bring Backs did; it’s simply the nature of this album, and furthermore, the music of Alfa Mist to have that kind of sleep ambience that only gets better with time.
And while Variables doesn’t venture out too far to break the mold of Alfa Mist’s discography, it does what it needs to do, and is yet another solid addition to the discography of this artist.
Favourite Tracks: Foreword | The Gist | BC
Least favourite Track: Apho
Anti
