I’m a big fan of the idea of songs having long and alternative lives. By that I mean that whilst we all have songs that we are precious about, songs that we have familiarized ourselves with, fallen heavily for, perhaps even closely studied, that is, of course, a record of just one day, or series of days in the studio, one possible version of a song, the future it was destined to have in that moment. But far from the only possible path open to it.
Through people covering or remixing songs, especially through the artist returning to the piece to write a new chapter, we get to see what these alternative lives look like.
And so David Cloyd sets his sights on “Cage of Water,” a signature song taken from last year’s stunning return to the game, Red Sky Warning, and here collaborates with acclaimed producer/remixer and lead singer of The Heroic Enthusiasts, James Tabbi to bring these other sonic visions to life.
The “Drop of Red Remix” pushes into an experimental percussion-driven soundscape that slowly grows and morphs into an eclectic gathering of brooding strings and chiming synths, before slowly and seductively rising into more anthemic territory. The “Synambient” take explains itself in the title: understated, slightly skittering, and caught in the ebb and flow of soft synth seductions. “Lonely Island Remix” is the real break with what has gone before, a grovesome, minimalist slice of dancefloor sophistication.
And to round things off, the original take is featured, serving as a swan song and reminding us how far we have travelled via these new sonic visions from that album version.
Songs are never finished, not if people want to keep on telling the story, adding new chapters, presenting new possibilities, offering alternative paths, and drawing new creative conclusions. And this EP, not only proves that to be true but is also shows that this is just the tip of the iceberg for where else “Cage of Water” might venture next.
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