Recurring (Live At King's Place)

I haven’t listened to much music these past couple of weeks, from the travelling over the Japan and the concept of time becoming a memory because of it. It feels like I hadn’t got the chance to put in my headphones for a minute or two - probably too much food to eat and snack to try. This album was a chance listen on the morning before travelling back to Tokyo from Osaka. I heard it early morning (my sleeping pattern is still shot) and then as the bullet train took off I settled down to a near 3 hour journey. So I finally put my earphones in, closed my eyes and went on a journey - in many senses of the word.

Deus ex is a masterpiece, the violins, Alpha mist’s piano coming together in the first half, slowly building for the rest of quarter to join in is just one of those moments to close your eyes and experience. They all play perfectly together, so much so that it will make your question that this is a live recording. It was the perfect accompaniment to the ebbs and flows of the bullet train I am on while writing this - the super express stops a lot more than I thought it would but let me know not veer of track (wink wink).

The entire album is bliss for anyone who can appreciate instruments - in the jazz space or otherwise. The composition of each piece can whisk you off anywhere you would like to be. There is also a very small sprinkling of vocals in With The Rain and Checkpoint (Violence) being placed in natural intermission points for the album to keep it fresh. The vocals are used well I would say, the rap truly shone for me when I could just sit back and listen to it.

It is a great album from Alfa Mist and I know there will be many more to come - he is a true talent.