Alifib - Alifib

Alifib

Alifib
self-released; 2014

4.3 out of 5 - TOP ALBUM

By Matt Jensen

Hailing from the South of France Alifib is a band that carries a lot of emotion in their music. On their recent self-titled release Alifib they have songs that feel cathartic, some that are covered in melancholy and others that feel carefree and fun. There is a lot to embrace here so let’s talk about some of the styles they are implementing into their music.

The first thing you are greeted with on the album is a lonesome extremely somber violin part. I didn’t know where this was going when I first heard it. I thought they might ride out the solo violin but instead they introduce the rest of the band in about a minute in. Try to imagine Godspeed You! Black Emperor with a predisposition to play indie rock with a really good vocalist. Delicate picked guitars, bass and drums overlap violins as the vocalist sings. “Daylight” sounds a bit like the title. The song starts with soft percussion as reverb-laced guitars slowly fade in.  It’s silk and smooth and feels good going down. 

“Interférences” sounds like a mix between the Led Zeppelin song “When The Levee Breaks” and a smidge of punk rock while “23 Years” has a heavy jazz influence with some great drum and bass work. Is there a better way to start off a song than with drone metal? Probably not but “Blythe Masters's dream” starts with the undercurrents of something you might hear from Sunn O))) before it gets bombarded by a healthy dose of indie rock. The song showcases a stellar vocal performance upon a soft, cloud like atmosphere.

They close with the percussive heavy “Shoot Me Down.” The drums and vocals carry the song for a while before the band starts getting into inventive territory. They delve into white fuzz and post-rock tendencies before closing out. 

Alifib’s self-titled is bona fide grade A good music. They have some good and even a couple of great songs that you won't want to miss. 

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