Frankie Alpha – Fragrances (2025)
After a year of releasing eclectic singles that hinted at his range, Frankie Alpha has crystallised his vision with Fragrances, a debut EP that announces him as a producer uninterested in playing by genre rules. The five-track collection lives up to its olfactory namesake, each piece designed to trigger distinct emotional memories while maintaining an underlying signature that marks them unmistakably as Alpha’s work.
What immediately strikes about Fragrances is Alpha’s confidence in juxtaposition. The EP refuses to settle into a single lane, instead weaving through tempos and textures with the assurance of someone who’s done their homework. From the playful falsetto-driven opener to the instrumental chaos of ‘I’m All Over The Place Right Now’, which wears its Aphex Twin and Caribou influences proudly, Alpha demonstrates that variety doesn’t have to mean inconsistency.
The standout is undoubtedly ‘Leave My Bones’, Alpha’s third collaboration with vocalist Giulia Poppy. Here, his multi-instrumentalist background and production finesse reach their apex. Poppy’s vocals carry both polish and vulnerability, floating over a production that shifts seamlessly between euphoric swells and haunted atmospheres. It’s a masterclass in emotional pacing, the kind of track that feels like a complete narrative arc compressed into four minutes. The chemistry between producer and vocalist is palpable, with Alpha’s intricate sound design providing the perfect canvas for Poppy’s alternative-tinged delivery.
‘Pisco Biscuit’ offers something entirely different: a slinky, bass-heavy number that rolls with summer festival energy, while ‘Coma Toes (Yay)’ taps into nostalgia with its seasonal warmth. The EP’s conceptual framework, aligning releases with UK and European seasonal patterns, adds depth to the listening experience without feeling forced.
If there’s a critique, it’s that the EP’s ambition occasionally threatens to overwhelm its cohesion. The genre-hopping approach, while exciting, may leave some listeners searching for a clearer throughline. But perhaps that’s the point: Alpha seems intent on establishing himself as an artist who values exploration over easy categorization.
Fragrances succeeds as both an arrival statement and a promise of more to come. It’s the work of an artist who knows exactly what he’s capable of while still leaving room for discovery. For those tired of electronic music that colours within the lines, Frankie Alpha offers something refreshingly unpredictable.
Find out more about Frankie Alpha on his Instagram and Spotify.
