4th January 2025

Review: “Alien” by Timfy James

A man of many projects as well as something of a musical entrepreneur, former Heart Of A Coward and Hacktivist guitarist Timfy James has been busy with Terra IV, Purge and OPIA in recent times. However there has always been this thought in the back of our minds at least, that given time and space at his very own Old School Studios, he may try his hand at a solo project. Afterall, idol hands are the devils workshop. As it turns out, we were right because “Alien” has been given the gift of life and the freedom to walk through a sound system near you…

Introduction piece “1420.405752” takes it’s name from the radio frequency in MHz that can pass through Earth’s atmosphere, an inspired choice for a concept record that doesn’t explain itself but instead plays to the curious mind. Combining DJent riffs with 90’s break beats, the track itself feels like something of a throwback to the covers that James created in his early career, like one of “Wild Ones” by Flo Rida ft Sia, while having a funky freshness to it that works incredibly well. A quote from American philosopher and advocate of shamanism Terence McKenna introduces “Alien” in curious fashion, the DJent riffs slowing to a mid-tempo dirge as they’re wrapped in delicate leads. James offers up the kind of clean vocals that we’ve heard from him previously in isolation on the verse or chorus in his other projects, like on “False Idols” by Hacktivist and here they add an aching quality to a sombre and melancholic yet cosmic tune.

Stepping out of those atmospherics and dialling up the intensity “Make Believe” returns to heavier territory with staccato riff breaks to give it a bit more punch. Polyrhythmic nuances and bursts of energy give this one plenty of earworm moments that will bring you back to it time and time again, this one being an obvious standout. Instrumental “The Answer” then feels like the calm before the storm, a mid-tempo moment of quiet contemplation with a bold bass line that you can easily get lost in, humming to the delicate melody. It’s not however followed by the wrongly anticipated heavier track as instead, rounding off the collection “Human (Alien)” brings back the 90’s dance tune vibes. If you hadn’t already guessed it, programming recreates the title track in remix form to give us a club anthem in the style that James no doubt grew up with. It will probably sound like a cliché but this collection of songs is actually exactly what you should expect from Timfy James because he hasn’t deviated from what he has previously done with his cryptic writings. He writes from his heart and as a result this collection has a soul stirring warmth to it [7.5/10]