Alfa Mist manages to pack a variety of soundscapes into his short but satisfying EP.
At only two tracks long, you would be forgiven for wondering whether Alfa Mist’s latest instrumental EP Two For Mistake is even substantial enough to hold your attention. But hold your attention it does, with twelve minutes’ worth of soulful jazz-infused with hip-hop beats to give it a sleek, groovy edge.
The first track First Light opens with smooth brass phrases over the top of misty percussion and a somewhat irregular time signature, giving the sense that the track is both stable and controlled yet slightly unpredictable. What follows is a cornucopia of sound: swelling strings, cascading melodies, and a flurry of brass near the end of the track. Whilst at times the instrumentation does sound a little disjointed, there is order amid the chaos.
Meanwhile, Bumper Cars serves as an extended version of the latter part of the track Last Card on Alfa’s album Bring Backs, released earlier this year. It features more of the studio session, complete with a string quartet this time which dances around gentle embellishments in the background. This track is altogether more chilled out compared to the heavier and occasionally tumultuous First Light, with a sharper sax melody taking centre stage followed by mellow guitars, sweeping strings, and jazzy chromaticism on the keyboard.
All in all, Two For Mistake has a lot to offer considering its length (or lack thereof). It’s the sort of record that I could certainly imagine on loop in a bar somewhere late at night: at times hazy enough not to distract, but also melodic enough to keep you interested. If jazz and hip-hop are your thing but you don’t want anything too heavy, this EP is for you.
Score: 3.5/5
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