alfa mist: bring backs
Francisco Espregueira
We can’t avoid talking about Alfa Mist. In 2017, when he was releasing Antiphon - his fantastic debut album that would affirm him as one of the driving forces behind a young and vibrant scene of UK musicians -, Alfa Mist was a new name that we, as always, had the pleasure to share. Four years passed in the blink of an eye and he is an acclaimed musician, producer, composer, creator. His new record, Bring Backs, marks his first release for the label Anti-, and is the most detailed exploration of his upbringing in musical form.
Alfa Mist laid out a distinctive and highly listenable sound based around a seamless fusion of hip hop and contemporary jazz in Antiphon. He refined that style with the breezy effervescence of 2019’s Structuralism. Bring Backs is the next step in his forward-thinking, special (and relatively short) career. He takes us on a sonic trip back to his beat-making past on the streets of East London, through the depth and musicality he discovered composing and playing jazz. After the nine tracks that compose this project it’s like time didn’t passed by us, inviting us to the depths of sonic contemplation and meditation. Bring Backs is a delightful showcase of Alfa Mist’s range and compositional gifts. Available on vinyl, CD and digital, via Anti-.