Tristeza is good. They're by no means an amazing band and they're not the greatest thing since sliced bread. However, they do have their own style and sound and as a unit, are tighter with each subsequent release. I initially discovered Tristeza by way of The Album Leaf which is Tristeza guitarist, Jimmy LaValle, on his own. Where The Album Leaf has a more new agey, ambient feel to it, Tristeza reeks of jazz influence. Their songs are carefully constructed and move through numerous sections. The tracks on this EP rarely repeat themselves; they're almost a continous flowing soundscape full of rich texture and quality structure. Unfortunately, many of the pieces are very short which makes most of this EP come off as a sort of sampler. The two longest tracks, "Glimpse Exposure" and "Living Stains" are a great representation of Tristeza at their best. During the heights of the latter, I feel like I'm flying through space with an unobstructed view of the sun. It's a beautiful piece. Track three, "Enchanter," although short, has a semi-breakbeat backing to it. It has more of a decided groove to it than most Tristeza stuff I've heard and it's a welcome new direction. Overall, this EP leaves me wanting more, and I'm sure that's intent. It's not great, but it's another fine release from a band that continues to improve. 7/10 -- Brad Rose (11 June, 2005)