Berlin/Hamburg based Psychedelic-Prog/Krautrock supergroup Weite, feat. member of Elder, High Fighter, Lawns, returns with thir sophomore album. Titled “Oase” was released on Novemver 22, 2024 via Stickman Records and contains seven tracks ranging from 3 to over 12 minutes in lenght. The opening track “Versteinert” is a long piece over nine minutes long that slowly immerses us in the sounds of the album. An intro with soft guitar work characterises the first part, with the intensity increasing as the minutes go by, in a musical crescendo that takes us through this intense instrumental. Dreamy atmospheres permeate the first part, then the rhythm section accelerates and incorporates heavier elements to the sound, a fine blend of Prog and Psychedelia at its best. Guitar flourishes and a deep bass line open ‘Time Will Paint Another Picture,’ a track with dreamy atmospheres and distinctly Progressive traits. Precious instrumental textures develop the theme through very refined intended solo interventions, while the rhythm section is enriched by tempo changes. Interesting symphonic openings and mixtures of guitar and keyboards explore a softer, more delicate facet of the band’s sound. The band brings back the sounds of the past in a modern context with personal traits, offering a very intense and elaborate piece. “(einschlafase)” is one of the shortest tracks on the album, at three minutes long, an atmospheric interlude with keyboard sounds and effect modulations. Percussive drumming and dreamy arpeggios open “Roter Traum,” a long track over 10 minutes in length that increases in intensity as the piece progresses. The band incorporates heavier elements with well-constructed guitar riffs alternating with instrumental openings between Krautrock and Space with the band’s characteristic Psych-Prog touch. The tempo changes are an added value to the track, allowing the band to range between the different genres and styles. A pleasant journey that enhances the band’s compositional and performing technique. The interlude “Woodbury Hollow” is the shortest in duration, exceeding 2 minutes. Characterised by guitar arpeggios and an atmospheric sound with a pleasant orchestral background, it takes us towards the following. We come to the epic track “Eigengrau,” which opens with atmospheric electronic keyboard sounds. The drumming moves slowly, creating together with the deep bass lines an elaborate rhythm section. The guitar drives the sound with a prolonged psychedelic solo intervention with lysergic traits. After a first part markedly under the sign of Acid and Psych sounds, in the middle part the band toprna on its characteristic sound, incorporating elements of Prog. The band uses the long duration to explore all the facets that characterise their personal style. The album ends with “The Slow Wave,” which as the title suggests is characterised by a slow-moving rhythm section in the first part. An enveloping guitar-driven sound with deep bass lines that give body to the sound, while the drumming offers intricate fills. With a change in the middle section the band incorporates more Heavy elements to the sound, developing the second part into a musical crescendo full of quality cues. This album confirms the good things heard in the previous one, confirming that these artists have created a very interesting and original project. Long instrumental plots offering a fresh and modern blend of Progressive and Psychedelic Rock, with forays into Krautrock. Solid and elaborate rhythm sections, good mixtures between guitar and keyboards allow the band to enhance their compositional and performing technique. A recommended listen for all lovers of the instrumental sounds of Prog-Psych and Krautrock, it will certainly be one of the most interesting albums of this 2025 in my opinion.
Tracklist
01. Versteinert (09:36)
02. Time Will Paint Another Picture (06:17)
03. (einschlafphase) (03:04)
04. Roter Traum (10:54)
05. Woodbury Hollow (02:30)
06. Eigengrau (12:40)
07. The Slow Wave (08:13)
Lineup
Ingwer Boysen
Nick Disalvo
Fabien De Menou
Benjamin Lubin
Michael Risberg
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