Turn It Up

Firestarter

August 19, 2008 0 Comments

Nearly every day, I make notes of things I’d like to highlight here. These can be newspaper or magazine articles I’ve ripped out (quite an intimidating stack), or e-mails or text messages I’ve sent to myself as a reminder. Sometimes I’ll just add a bookmark to my web browser so it’s more immediately top of mind. But it’s this last method that’s causing current consternation.

I can’t recall where I stumbled upon Get Well Soon. Maybe I caught the clip below while ravenously devouring Bit Box in Buenos Aires back in June. That’s likely the best bet, but really it could have been any random evening spent clicking around the Interwebs. Once you enter the wormhole, kids, it’s a trip to trace one’s steps back.

So while I’m not sure how I first heard about “Witches! Witches! Rest Now In The Fire,” the video is worth the watch:

Get Well Soon is the work of a German musician, Konstantin Gropper, who’s crafted an intricate aural feast that’s by turns delicate and dark. “Witches,” for instance, sounds like a swooning 1950s pop orchestra fronted by an even more sardonic Morrissey (or Nick Cave). The NME review that greets visitors to the band’s website sums things up nicely: “We truly believe that Get Well Soon’s Konstantin Gropper is the devil.”

Gropper toiled on the debut Get Well Soon album, Rest Now, Weary Head, You Will Get Well Soon! for three years, though he released a smattering of GWS EPs during the same period. Considering Weary Head includes the tracks “If This Hat Is Missing I Have Gone Hunting” and “I Sold My Hands for Food So Please Feed Me,” perhaps Gropper spent much of the time conjuring up lengthy song titles.

Purchase the import-only Rest Now, Weary Head, You Will Get Well Soon! via Amazon or 7digital.