Frisky Monkey - Wild Reimaginings
Review by Karl Magi
Overall Album Impressions
Frisky Monkey’s Wild Reimaginings takes the contrasting musical moods, dark New Wave sound and intertwining synth palette of their Wild Imaginings album and whirls them together with the distinctive musical sensibilities of the different remixers. The end result adds depth and aural interest to the original songs, moving them in an ear-catching variety of different directions.
What I most enjoy about Wild Reimaginings is the way in which each of the individual remixers respect the source material while adding personal touches. The music's emotional core remains constant while each artist explores the new possibilities that stem from their own musical worlds. The end result is a skilful re-interpretation of the overall sound of the original album.
Musical variety is another reason that I find Wild Reimaginings to be an enjoyable listening experience. The way in which the remixes branch off into unique sonic explorations is pleasing from the dance floor thunder of “Just Saying (Jon Thomson remix)” to the resonant, ancient quality in “Abstract Thoughts (DiPettus Remix).” The other tracks similarly roam in fascinating directions.
Juan Cezar and Seersha’s vocal performances are always kept prominent in the remixes on the album. Their singing is such an integral part of the original music and I am happy that the remixers all respect that fact in the way that they approach the different songs.
My Favourite Tracks Analyzed
“Just Saying (Jon Thomson remix)” opens as blunt, thick bass echoes into open space. Ticking drums and hard hitting, heavy bass are a call to dance. Sweeping sounds move along with a repeating vocal fragment over the throbbing drums and bass.
Full-sounding synth carries a driving, cascading melodic pattern with a metallic edge as Juan Cezar’s resonant voice captures the emotion in the lyrics. Underneath the vocals, a melodic pattern wriggles and dark bass roils drums propel the track forward. I enjoy the contrast between musical darkness and the affection in the lyrics.
Huge, hard-edged bass flows and drums keep the song’s motion going. Shadows roll through as hissing synth slips over tidal bass and shaping percussion. The music is full of towering power and vaguely ominous feelings and trembling synth has an angular motion.
Clashing, gigantic drums burst below slowly swirling, medium high synth as “And If” commences. Juan Cezar’s distinctive, umbral vocals move above intensely driving drums. Tumbling synths with a gentle glow vibrate in cascades as the drums and bass charge with undeniable force.
Juan Cezar’s voice beautifully exudes gentle pain in the vocal melody while shimmering synth trembles in layered lines. The balance between force and emotion is well-considered in this song. Juan Cezar’s singing becomes gentler while medium-high, glowing synth carries a caressing melody above the dense bass and tapping drums. The vocals exude hopeful, tenuous anticipation as the endlessly bursting percussion and bass finally stop.
Our narrator talks about the fragile nature of hope. He points out that it’s a basic human desire but it causes issues when it encourages “our wild imaginings, making the mind to the heart be a liar.” He says that if the other person changed their mind and wanted to try again “I wouldn’t hesitate in any way.” He continues by saying that he knew “eventually we are something you can’t deny.”
The storyteller adds that at times he feels that it is futile “and I want to give in to despair” he just needs to see the other person smiling and to understand that they still care. He goes on to say that they are undeniable “so go on and change your mind today.” He says he’d “drop everything and be on my way” because the other person always has his heart. He concludes that “neither time nor distance will tear us apart.”
“While The World Falls Apart (Von Herzog remix)” opens as an organ fills the background while elevated, glittering synth flashes out a minor key melody full of energy and threatening feelings. Juan Cezar’s shaded, resonant voice carries a yearning, melancholy melody.
The ache is effectively leavened by more uplifting emotion as steadily creaking bass is touched by sparkling, spinning higher synth. Juan Cezar’s emotionally intense voice is supported by the organ’s climbing strength and rumbling bass that surges along with throbbing drums.
The vocal melody’s tenderness is surrounded by dramatic organ notes while the shining, flickering synths interlock. Hard-hitting drums kick in alongside ominous bass and gleaming, rising synth chords burst sunnily. Juan Cezar’s expressive voice calls out as the organ contributes lush strength.
Rushing, hollow drum like a frame drum and a duduk’s ancient, resonant voice start “Abstract Thoughts (DiPettus Remix).” Juan Cezar’s darkly shaded voice and Seersha’s plaintive chanting mingle over quickly tumbling percussion.
A ritualistic quality fills the music as both singers voices soar, carrying the yearning, ancient-sounding melody. Orchestral strings add layers of mournful sound that I find pleasing. The duduk cries out, full of intense pain, while drums thunder and throb.
Juan Cezar and Seersha now mingle their strong, expressive voices as the strings swirl and interlock. Warmth pours from the vocals over percussion’s battering power and swelling bass. The strings tremble and the open, reverberant duduk begins to fade as the drums stop.
"Tears In The Rain (Seersha Remix)” commences as an intense, open-voiced drum pulses unevenly. An indistinct voice calls out and raised sounds echo along with a lost piano carrying a distant melody. Sharp-edged synth slices while Seersha’s emotive voice carries a dynamic melody that also hurts.
Juan Cezar’s deep voice joins the song while quick, clashing synth leaps over the throbbing beat and cutting, laser-like sound. The two vocalists distinctive voices mingle as rippling, rounded synth sails through the music.
Juan Cezar’s shadowy, strong voice carries the uplifting melody as Seersha's voice effectively adds support. Elevated, wandering synth drifts with a lost and pained feeling over the hard-edged synth pulses and heavily driving drums and bass. An elevated, mournful high instrument emotes before the song ends.
Steadily pulsing bass and gruff, medium low synth carries a tenderly swirling melody to open “Goodbye To Me (Watch Out For Snakes Remix).” High, digital sounding synth pulses cut over the throbbing drums as Juan Cezar’s voice carries the pained, but energetic melody.
I am drawn to the way in which the vocals capture the mixed regret and desire to feel better.
Razor-edged, digital echoes cut in along with rounded, elevated notes as the drums rush on. The melody has a floating feeling as raised, shining synth notes volley back and forth as heavy bass charges on. The computerized synth melody is progressive and bursts with life above the weighty motion below it before silence falls.
Conclusion
Wild Reimaginings is the sort of remix album that I find most enjoyable. The remixers have a deep understanding of the source material which allows them to craft re-conceptualized versions of the songs that accord them the respect they are due. In the end, this creates music that freshly interprets the original songs without losing their initial emotional expression.
