WHIFI – 1234 (2026) – Album Review
Album: 1234
Artist: Whifi
Release Date: February 1, 2026
This duo comprises two Catalan musicians with backgrounds in live performance, jazz, and composing their own solo work. While both focus on synths and keys, they are accomplished multi-instrumentalists, performing with a wide variety of artists around Barcelona. They seem to have a strong affinity for improvisational performances, but they are adept at sight-reading and structured performance as well.
The material for 1234 was completely improvised, with no set plan—just passing sonic ideas back and forth, letting each moment flow into the next. Live performances of this nature can often lead to jam-band noodling and monotony, which might be a turn-off for listeners wanting something more predictable or polished. The WHIFI duo is made up of solid players who ensure they have a curated group of sounds and samples to serve as a strong base for experimentation. Improvised performance doesn’t equal unprepared or unprofessional.
They do lean on existing materials, either in the form of samples or passages from familiar works, such as The Beatles’ “Hey Jude” or traditional Catalan music, which gradually mutates into something new. It takes a lot of passion for the source material and skill to transform it into a fun and unique experience. On “Un drone a l’A2,” what begins as a familiar melody or field-recorded nature sounds suddenly builds into lush synthetic soundtracks for a Blade Runner–like world. As the drones wind down, “Groove d’equilibrisme fràgil” shifts into their jazz leanings, with heavily affected piano licks and granular drum loops. While it might not be groundbreaking material, it is executed well and clearly benefits from a live atmosphere rather than a home listening environment.
While I do appreciate the overall approach of improvised music in a live context, I think WHIFI’s real strength lies in deconstructing found sounds and more unusual materials into dystopian soundscapes. I would love to hear more of their granular sample manipulation and a roaring wavetable wash as the sun sets over a Barcelona rooftop club. The more coffee shop–leaning jazz can be left for the morning after..
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