Krautrock and witches seem to be a natural fit. There’s always been something slightly supernatural about the psychedelic rhythms of the early pioneers of post-war German rock. Bands like Neu!, Can, and Kraftwerk existed in a world that had a direct link to the stark geometry of Dadaism and Bauhaus, and certainly there was something equally spell-binding about the art they weaved. The genre has been swallowed up by the merging of psychedelia and the avant-garde, but there are still some artists flying on their brooms, making music that conjures up images of the arcane. Witches, by definition, are inhuman and krautrock, in some ways, is just as witchy as anyone in a pointed hat crouching over a simmering cauldron of doom.
Italian krautrock band Oslo Tapes are premiering their new video for “Inhuman Witch”, a single from their upcoming album Låst Comet, with EIN. The band’s trippy, infectious music has been premiered with us before, and it’s an honor for us to do it once more. On “Inhuman Witch” the band continues working within the realms of an atmospheric gothic trip through human existence:
The song is a slow dirge, a sensual slog through the sewers of some unnamed medieval town. Featuring a repetitive, heavily-affected bass line over an off-kilter kick-snare drum beat, the song twists and turns back on itself, adding layers of anticipation as each second passes. The video’s first forty seconds float through black and white forest imagery, intercut with shots of an arm smeared in ash and lips dripping with blood. Once the vocals emerge, the camera locks on the mouth and eyes—the portals to our souls—creating a bewitching visual of impending doom.
At the halfway point, the song plunges into a psychedelic groove, images drifting in and over each other. Keyboard swells float above the hypnotic rhythm like a coven of witches casting a spell over a sacrificial goat poised in the middle of a pentagram. The song pulsates with supernatural energy— a fitting soundtrack for a world where no one can be trusted.
This feeling is echoed by the band’s description of the song:
‘A hypnotic voyage through obsessive grooves, warped distortions, and esoteric synth textures, “Inhuman Witch” conjures a ritualistic and evocative atmosphere. Androgionous Marco Campitelli’s vocals intertwine seamlessly with the additional voice of Emilie Lium Vordal, a Norwegian singer and multi-instrumentalist. As the lead single, the track also marks the beginning of an exciting new creative era for Oslo Tapes.’
Ultimately, “Inhuman Witch” is a slow burn. There’s no attempt at sinking the hooks into the listener as much as there is a desire to cast the listener under their hypnotic spell. In this sense, Oslo Tapes are the witches, and we’re invited to join them in their darkened spot in the middle of the Norwegian forest. If “Inhuman Witch” is any indication, their upcoming album Låst Comet may very well be the final conjuration that brings the masses to their knees.
Låst Comet comes out on Golden Robot Records, Grazil Records and Worst Bassist soon. Follow the band on their Instagram and buy their music from their Bandcamp.
