Last week, German techno icon Paul Kalkbrenner released “Schwer”—his first song in two years—and has brought it to life with a groundbreaking new music video.

The film, created by independent design firm Mother Berlin, award-winning director Jovan Todorović and production company BWGTBLD, displays an ongoing loop of scenes that depict familiar activities from daily life. 

In a potential commentary on reality and the digital age, the video features artificially rendered people, created using 4D-volumetric technology, as opposed to real-life actors. 

The production team enlisted 42 cameras to track human motion and insert Sims-like 3D figures into footage of real-life environments throughout Berlin. The scenes and figures are altered on each pass, stretching the normal events into hilarious absurdity.

Kalkbrenner himself even makes an appearance, with multiple artificial renderings of the famous DJ dancing and laughing hysterically in what appears to be a Berlin subway station.

Commenting on the film, Kalkbrenner said, “Incredible. This volucap technology is really another level. I feel very privileged to be able to work with Jovan, Mother Berlin, BWGTBLD, and everyone else involved in this video. It couldn’t be more on point.”

“Schwer,”—which translates to “hard,” “heavy,” or “tough” in English—features a simple but aggressive synth line, carrying the tune that is “unequivocally Kalkbrenner.” 

Check out the “Schwer” music video below.

Featured image from Paul Kalkbrenner.