Bravery in Battle - 'Wetico'
Post-Rock cinematic meanderings, with intention.
Parisian collective Bravery in Battle are back, teasing their multimedia exploration into the relationship between we humans and our environment on their new track ‘Wetico’.
Scheduled for release on June 9th, ‘The House We Live In’ is “a true visual and musical epic, a collaboration between visual artists, musicians and prominent activists.” Composer Steve Reich’s technique of “musicalising” speech is the lynch-pin for this project, he applies his technique to recordings of talks, lectures and interview footage to make a cinematographic musical atmosphere, creating a soundtrack calling for a rethinking of our ways of life. The approach taken for this project seems to be broader than a lot of environmental statements of the modern day. Without green-washing or virtue signalling, they’re making the case for a more thoughtful, open-hearted dialogue on what it means to be human, the ways in which we treat our home, and each other.
Enter ‘Wetico’. Wetico is an old Cree word used to describe someone who eats the life of another, though we’re not talking about cannibalism. Native Indians often referred to Colonising Europeans as being possessed by Wetico, an evil spirit who is said to invoke feelings of greed and hunger, with the desire to dominate and exploit other humans.
The mains themes of this album become immediately apparent as the opening chords lead us in, textured and sombre, with a lingering feeling of industrialism. It’s like drifting through a city at night, somewhat sedated by the natural oppression of urban life, surrounded by buildings, people and advertising. The drums are close behind, only enhancing our sense of disorientation. Rotating around the beat, galloping down the streets, ripping apart the monotony. They’re always suggesting a crescendo is imminent, but never promising it’s arrival, much like the false promise of community and companionship in the spangly lights of a bustling city. The music and mood intensify, there’s a sense of claustrophobia in the air but also a distinct feeling of spaciousness. Emptiness, even.
And something does come (see, change IS possible). All of a sudden the swirling drums find their centre as the soundscape starts to fizz and oscillate, at once disparate and united, melancholic yet accepting. It invokes a familiar feeling we’ve all noticed, but rarely stop to acknowledge; that itch you can’t quite scratch when walled in by a big city. It’s almost too much. Everything is feeding back into itself and just when you think you can’t take any more, the hypnotic heart of the song drops out. The main theme returns, leaving us feeling contemplative, and more robust than before. Five minutes only felt like two. ‘Wetico’ was my first introduction to this band, and I cannot wait to hear more.
Words by Harry Jones
