Fuzzle Pickles Review
Buy Fuzzy Pickles
Picking a favorite track from GameLark’s latest release, Fuzzy Pickles, is a nigh impossible task since every track has its own quirks and charms. Much like the Mother games that that inspired this album, it’s hard to categorize or describe this release. In that way, Fuzzy Pickles is like a box of chocolate—you never know what you’re going to get, but you know it’s going to be good.
A quick look at this album reveals a veteran cast of musicians, and if you’ve heard a GameLark album before, you’re probably familiar with most of them. NoteBlock and Stevie Viola (formerly Stevie Pilgrim) bring the heat with some insanely catchy and funky renditions of “Bein’ Friends” and “You Call This a Utopia?”. Subversiveasset, Steven Morris, Hugo Junstrand, and Kain White all provide compelling mid-tempo tracks, and Ro Panuganti is the outlier with a frenetic rendition of “Fourside”. Of course, the album also knows when to take it slow, and thanks to The Gamba Geek and Soundole, these quieter moments also shine. Without a doubt, the album’s greatest strength is its diversity, but that does come at a cost.
I wouldn’t call Fuzzy Pickles the most coherent album, and while the album never completely derails, there are a few song transitions that feel abrupt. That being said, album producer and mastering engineer Ro Panuganti deserves a lot of credit because balancing this many styles is no easy task. Perhaps, Ro could have reeled in one or two tracks, but where’s the fun in that? This album is a house party with a colorful cast of characters, each vying for the listener’s attention. Therein, lies the strength of Mother’s soundtrack and the strength of GameLark—every track is distinct because every artist is distinct.
Despite the diversity of sounds, artists, and games on this record, themes of friendship, adventure, and childhood unify the album. The tone is consistently quirky and charming like the characters that inhabit the Mother games, and if you’re not careful, you too might start believing in make believe.
RATING: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
(Most VGM Fans Should Enjoy)