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Reviews

Die Wilde Jagd — Ophio
(Bureau B BB407, 2023, CD / LP / DL)

by Henry Schneider, Published 2023-05-05

Ophio Cover art

Being totally unfamiliar with songwriter and producer Sebastian Lee Philipp’s work, especially his project Die Wilde Jagd (German for "The Wild Hunt"), I had no idea what I was in for, especially from the sun slashed t-shirt cover art, and the promo material threw me a bit off by mentioning the tension between contemporary electronic music and avant-pop evident in his music. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised from the opening notes. Ophio showcases eight melodic avant-garde tracks, mostly electronic, but with the occasional guitar, drums, violin, cello, and vocals. Ophio tells of constant transformation, the blurring of beginning, end, and various points between. For example, the opening track is “Ein Anfang,” German for “A Beginning” and track four is “Gnafna Nie,” the inverse, but entirely different music. Mixing ambient sounds of water, analog synths, pulsating sequencers, heavily processed sound sources, tribal rhythms, and vocals make for some very intriguing and engaging songs. There is an overall veil of mystery that surrounds the music, sometimes sinister. I am even reminded of Tony Conrad and Faust’s Outside the Dream Syndicate, especially on “Perserveranz.” The album ends with the ancient symbol for infinity “Ouroboros” that brings the album full circle to start all over again. Ophio is an album as strange as it is enjoyable.

Filed under: New releases, 2023 releases

Related artist(s): Die Wilde Jagd

More info
http://diewildejagd.bandcamp.com/album/ophio

 

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