Featured artists on this latest from crossover jazz grime pianist and producer Alfa Mist include bass guitarist/singer Kaya Thomas-Dyke on 'Aged Eyes' alas just a fairly average song with strings that you might hear anonymously and only half engage with on the radio. On 'Apho' South African singer Bongeziwe Mabandla whose ethereal vocals are more to our taste than the rapping elsewhere is better. But if the whole album was more like improvised track 'BC' rather than a journey down the lush more orchestrated sweet centred route it would be far more gripping. 'Cycles' never gets going, 'The Gist' is more interesting. But nothing on Variables is really that essential. Disappointing certainly compared to the 5 star Bring Backs. Drummer Jas Kayser's contribution however is strong and builds even more her profile although we are still waiting for the definitive statement from her. Out today
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