Play n Go Music leans all the way into cinematic storytelling with Journey into the Wilde, an EP that celebrates a decade of its adventure-driven icon, Rich Wilde. But instead of playing it safe, the project goes globe-trotting, pulling in musicians from Cairo, Valencia, and London to build an expansive, nuanced, and atmospheric record. With Niamh Ní Mheara’s haunting vocals threading through much of the record, this expedition involves violins mainly by Youssef Moustafa and also Matthew Lloyd‑Wilson, cello by David Wong, and horns by Dwight Pile‑Gray & Adrian Wheeler
The opener “The Wilde” is immersive and atmospheric with ambient vocals of Niamh Ní Mheara merged in the fog. The percussion and drums tap and beat organically and exotically with mystical allure, while the strings glisten and writhe, bringing suspense and theatrical energy to the music. Towards the end, the strings rise atop, building their tune with fervent and scintillating appeal.
Then comes “The Dance of Osiris (Part 1)” featuring Isaac Hernández Campos, where the percussion taps, rumbles, shimmers, and jingles, while the strings swirl around and theatrically writhe and swell with grave intensity. It’s all very exotic and expansive, especially with Niamh Ní Mheara wailing and chanting breathily into the veins of the music, and her voice rippling silkily amidst the mesmerizing music.
Part II comes in more suspensefully, marching theatrically, which does allow listeners to immerse themselves in a serious project, as they are enchanted by the atmosphere. Afterwards, “Journey into the Wilde” emerges with a rich, velvety choir performance, steadying the air before clanging beats arrive. It only gets more riveting after that, before the strings turn the music more melancholic and contemplative.
The journey concludes with the mystique of “The Dance of Osiris,” featuring Isaac Hernández Campos again. The strings whir and shrill in their silky smooth bends, soon joined by rumbling heavy drums and cello, through which comes rippling in the ghostly exotic force of Mheara. It’s a strong, weathering dance with powerful horns, under which ancient chants breathe with ominous energy.
All in all, Journey into the Wilde pulls you headfirst into the enchanting whirls of myth and mystery. Check it out on Spotify.
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Review by: Naomi Joan