Now Qazi has just returned with his first release in seven years, and it marks a distinct new chapter for Reverist. Not only is Reverist down to a solo act, but the brand-new Almost Home EP departs from the radio-ready indie-pop sound that Qazi had already mastered early on. Here, he goes all in on the new horizon of the somewhat less mainstream world of synthwave, a direction that Qazi says was “kind of the original intent of my music endeavors.”
That intent is already manifest within seconds on opening track “Pressure,” with a synthesizer symphony that exudes pure 1980s cinema. The grand scale and sweeping melodicism that’ve always been hallmarks of Reverist’s music translate well in this new phase. Here, they conjure widescreen, hyperrealistic vistas made for science fiction.
In keeping with the synthwave aesthetic, Qazi’s vocals are almost entirely absent. Not until the fourth song, “Almost Home,” does his voice come in, but that track’s only a one-minute interlude. The five-song collection is otherwise a primarily instrumental work.
But for all the surprise of not just reappearing from out of the blue but as a completely retooled act, Reverist’s dramatic transformation from pop band to synthwave act is remarkably seamless.
It’s a fresh reboot worth new ears. Almost Home now streams everywhere and sits atop TLU’s Spotify playlist.
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This article appears in May 21-27, 2025.