Joburg-hailing progressive-rock outfit HOKUM revel in discomfort in their latest single and video “The Caress”.
It’s a punchy, expansive trip through the nuances that feed our individual world views: a concept matched in complexity by its composition. There are moments here and there where the song seems to almost fall apart but the ever-changing rhythmic structure, along with some intricate drumming, and borderline manic guitar-work, give it an exciting sense of unpredictability.
The video is as gripping as a performance video can get. Uncomfortable close-ups with at-times unorthodox focus-points create a sense of claustrophobia – and the black-and-white filter interspersed with sudden flashes of colour lends it a horror-movie feel. The druid-esque aesthetic of the guitarists brings a hint of the supernatural making the whole production intensely compelling.
“The Caress” is a song wrapped up in layers of subtext with each listen bringing something new to your attention and the video is equally intriguing, led on an undeniable intensity that makes it difficult to pull away from.