The enthralling German electronic band Die Wilde Jagd’s fourth studio album ophio leaves listeners wanting more of those sweet melodies that are left seared into their minds. Since Sebastian Lee Philipp and Ralf Beck first embarked on their musical journey, the duo have created a name for themselves by experimenting in the realms of synthpop, krautrock, electronica and more.
Philipp has expressed that their otherworldly album is like “…the constant unfolding of the self, about the seductive forces of life, an ode to existence and the transformation to happiness.” Though there are minimal lyrics, ophio‘s eight eye-opening songs blend into almost fifty minutes of a sensation one might experience attempting dimensional time-travel through various lifetimes–past, present and future.
“Ein Anfang” starts off the album with a “looking glass” ambience–how it is difficult to discern the truth based exclusively on appearances. The opening begins slow and steady with a gentle escalation of eerily beautiful synths that create a low reverbing hum. Philipp and Beck later layer a shrill toned noise on top of the harmony that creates a chilling effect. As the track progresses, the hollow humming begins to increase in sound spliced with faint background noises–clanking construction bars, wind chimes and more–which simulates feelings of going through daily motions thoughtlessly. Listeners won’t be able to distinguish if the noises are coming from outside or within the song, which is a tough effect to pull off.
The album then transitions to “Ophio” which kicks off with an light, airy guitar riff backing Philipp’s captivating German vocals. The lyrics tell a story of an individual who is stuck in the recurring loop of life, perfectly exemplified by the loose translation of “Ophio, willst du mit mir tauschen,” which is “Ophio, do you want to trade places with me?” All of the tracks have their own distinct, alluring sounds, however, songs like “Perseveranz” and “In Wonnenhieben,” are unparalleled in comparison with the other tracks.
The nearly ten minute song “Perseveranz” incites the feeling of heading off to battle and fighting until the very last breath. The solely instrumental track incorporates electronic warblings, crackling static, a faint yet sharp flute and beyond with the occasional placement of siren-like murmurs. Around the halfway mark, “Perseveranz” embraces even more sounds of a ticking clock, old computer dial ups, clacking keyboards and a tambourine which keeps with the consistent tempo. The closing of a chaotic violin progression was the cherry with extra sprinkles on top. Die Wilde Jagd’s use of sampling illustrates the emotions and sounds associated with perseverance exquisitely, showcasing their mesmerizing talents in the experimental electronic genre.
“In Wonnenhieben” demonstrates the duo’s lyrical genius by capturing the experiences of infatuation and delight in a six minute composition. At the beginning, the duo introduces a repetitive, thudding electronic melody that slowly pulls listeners into their niche aural universe. Later, the progression is layered on top of Philipp’s seductive vocals which only adds to the track’s overarching trope–pure delight. The sporadic addition of alluring samplings between breaths builds on the song’s intensity. The outro concludes with “Es nimmt dich auf, es reisst dich fest an sich,” which loosely translates to “It absorbs you, it pulls you tight,” epitomizing how feelings of delight takes ahold of people and once they have it, things will never be the same.
All of the songs on this enthralling, captivating album embody Die Wilde Jagd’s experimental musical and lyrical approaches that flawlessly grasp each of the concepts they apply to their EPs and albums. Ophio takes listeners on a wandering journey through the diverse feelings and events tied to life, looking at the good, the bad and in-between, while bestowing them an experience they will never forget.
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