CAICOS
You already know Alex Frenkel from work with Gabriel Garzón-Montano, work in Gospels and today announces the debut EP Promised Lands from solo act Caicos arriving August 10 from Very Jazzed. Presenting the world premiere of the debut Caicos single “Turned Again (Crux)” with visuals created by Rozalina Burkova along with The Wild Honey Pie; Frenkel explores the Medusa myth in lyrics & cartoon creations that ponders the notions of being turned to stone with an aesthetic that mix classical with styles of futurism. The world of Caicos is one that dives deep into the systems & stories of mythology to bring their resonating relevance forward to the present day in meditations on humanity, winds of change & their influence on the arts.
“Turned Again (Crux)” from Caicos is created from a warm & welcoming approach to song-arrangements where electronic elements contribute to an otherwise holistic delivery. The visuals that adhere to the rustic sensibilities of the ancients are met eye-catching pop-art that contributes to a captivating piece of creative accompaniment to join Frenkel’s Caicos creation. A tale of uneven matters in life & love are described in conjunction with the stone-gazed story of Medusa where people become petrified by their own vacuous & derelict desires. Caicos creates a narrative of errors that sees cycles of being turned into stone as an entire world continues to carry onward all around them. Alex’s narrative at times rides forward with stream of conscious wings that allude to cryptic unrequited attachments while Rozalina Burkova’s stunning animated work crystallizes the entire piece together as a media installation exhibit worthy of being displayed in your local museum of modern art. “Turned Again (Crux)” observes the courses of change, a world where apathy instigates others—along with the stoic stare of time—to make those changes for us (when we are too stubborn to make those changes for ourselves). The art of Caicos is an impressionistic representation of a whirlwind of realities that are fused into something both classical & contemporary.
Alex Frenkel of Caicos provided the insightful thoughts on the making of both the single & visual for “Turned Again (Crux)”:
The music for “Turned Again (Crux)” initially developed from the chord progression that would later become the chorus of the song. I wrote it on piano and it was originally conceived at a much slower tempo. Once I started playing it faster and added the jagged, syncopated drum pattern, the idea really started to take shape. To solidify the instrumentation, the piano was switched out for a more airy, synthesized sound and the arrangement was ornamented with a few different-sounding guitar loops.
Regarding the lyrics, the intent was to not only try to modernize a popular Greek myth (Medusa), but to contextualize it in a real-world setting by bringing some personal experience to it as well. Throughout the song, it describes a relationship that is too dependent on someone that can’t lead the way or even consistently steer in the right direction.
When I was introduced to illustrator/animator/director Rozalina Burkova’s work via The Wild Honey Pie, I was instantly drawn to its eccentric personality and beautiful singularity. After she agreed to make a video for the song, I sent her the lyrics, and after briefly discussing some of the imagery, she ran with it and made it her very own—creating a vibrant world for her dynamic characters to carry out an original storyline. I’m very excited to finally be able to share it with you.
Alex Frenkel’s debut Caicos EP Promised Lands will be available August 10 via Very Jazzed.
