Tears for the present, tears for the past
The future is uncertain so we smoke another pack
And we pick apart the details as we dance around the beast
Sweating irony and whiskey ’til we’re seasoned for the feast
In the dim neon glow of Seattle’s underground, songwriter Billy Sigil, under the moniker Hot Hail!, conjures an electric alchemy that blends goth glamour with the darker depths of modern darkwave. Their music inhabits a realm that’s part eerie pop, part icy protest, setting lyrics that unsettle to beats that compel bodies to move – perhaps in a collective ritual.
Sigil’s latest single, My Own Private Weimar, stands apart from their recent full-length collection, revisiting a song co-written two decades earlier with their former bandmate Brooke Emrich in Shorthand For Epic. Originally conceived amid the anxious climate of Bush-era America, the track now feels startlingly prophetic, resonating uncannily with our current cultural crossroads. This reimagining dresses the band’s earlier angst in an icy sheen reminiscent of Depeche Mode’s dark synth swagger and the political bend of Killing Joke, Blancmange and Fad Gadget – while also brushing shoulders with the New Wave pulse of early Duran Duran and ABC.
“I wrote the lyrics of this song in 2004, during the second Bush election, when the transparent greed, warmongering, and electoral manipulations of that administration seemed as bad as it could get,” says Sigil. “…In the aftermath of the most recent election, I revisited this song and realized that it presciently, almost creepily, seemed to fit this particular historical moment, much more than its original era. It’s a song about the way that Fascism creeps in unnoticed around us while we’re simply living, creating art, being queer, being joyful. Even in our relatively progressive urban sanctuaries, we’ve seen how quickly the clean-cut tech capitalists around us have made their accommodations with the policies of this administration. It becomes obvious that this has always been under their skin.”
My Own Private Weimar, with its echoes of Violator-era Depeche Mode, reflects on the paradox facing compassionate souls confronted by fascism. Billy Sigil navigates the unsettling realization that cruelty may compel force, despite deep disgust at such necessity. The track mourns lost idealism and imagination wounded by violence made unavoidable. Steeped in sophisticated synth-pop, the song offers catchy grooves concealing darker truths: a bittersweet dance for innocence surrendered to harsh reality.
“All we wanted was to exist, love, create,” Sigil reflects, “and now we’re considering what monstrosities we’ll have to commit or become just to survive—for no imaginable good reason. Facing a world that cheerfully allowed or encouraged this, it’s tempting to retreat into comfort and pleasure, or simply lie down and not get back up.”
Brooke Emrich rejoins Sigil on backing vocals, reinforcing the lyrical lament over fascism’s steady encroachment. The tension thrives in the collision between urgent message and irresistible melody, a nightclub-friendly groove masking deeper meditation on democracy’s fragile footing. In Hot Hail!’s deft hands, pop delivers both pleasure and political provocation, pulling listeners onto the dance floor even as they confront chilling realities. If you’re looking for the musical zeitgeist in these troubling times, this track delivers both intellectual depth and a tasty, anthemic chorus.
Listen to My Own Private Weimar below and order the single here.
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