The sounds of a witch are often portrayed as eerie, mysterious, and magical. They evoke a sense of both fear and fascination in our imagination. Whether it's in movies, books, or folklore, the sounds associated with witches are a key element in creating a spooky atmosphere. One of the most iconic sounds of a witch is her cackling laughter. It is a high-pitched and sinister laughter that sends chills down your spine. It is often heard when the witch is up to no good, casting spells, or brewing potions.
Here’s another Spellcaster: the title of Wondery’s new schaden-fraud series. And, yes, I mean schaden-fraud: it’s my label for that subset of true crime podcasts in which a charismatic huckster convinces crowds to part with their money, proceeds to soar to the top by riding those billions, and then… crashes. Think The Dropout, about Theranos and Elizabeth Holmes, or The Missing Crypto Queen, about Ruja Ignatova. These podcasts have a tendency to end up as Netflix series.
Historian Ronald Hutton says that, actually, when it came to witch-killing, the UK divided along Anglo-Saxon Celtic lines Wales and the Scottish Highlands on one side, England and the lowlands on the other. Like so many others since The Blair Witch Project , Blair Witch tries to immerse us into the action and give us that little extra bit of scare and unease by pretending to be real.
It is often heard when the witch is up to no good, casting spells, or brewing potions. The cackling laughter adds to the witch's character, making her appear more wicked and powerful. Another sound often associated with witches is the sound of their brooms sweeping through the night sky.
The week in audio: Witch; Spellcaster: The Fall of Sam Bankman-Fried; History’s Secret Heroes – review
India Rakusen, host of the excellent 28ish Days Later, which looked at the process of menstruation day by day, is back on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. Once again, she’s chatting lady stuff. Be scared, chaps! Yeah, you’d better be: because Rakusen is talking about – and to – witches.
I’ve heard the first three episodes of Witch, and the ones Rakusen encounters are a long way from claw-fingered, black-robed pointy hats. Instead, they’re normal-ish young women who’ve simply continued the spells and incantations of childhood. One burns unwanted bills and invitations in a May Day ritual. Another talks Rakusen through her teas (“That’s very poisonous! It’s nightshade; don’t even open the jar”). A wicca follower mentions they schedule their projects according to the waxing and waning of the moon. Everyone’s having a lovely time.
But life wasn’t always so good for a witch. In Edinburgh, Claire Mitchell KC is leading a campaign for the city to acknowledge that 2,500 innocent people – mostly women – were accused, tortured and killed for witchcraft from the 1560s onwards. We hear about the 1486 Malleus Maleficarum – the Hammer of the Witches – a madly sexist, initially ridiculed text that gradually gained respect and somehow got entwined with the papal bull of 1484, so that killing witches appeared to be church-approved. Then there’s Daemonologie, written in 1597 by King James VI of Scotland, later James I of England. His wife and daughter had been endangered in a storm at sea and he blamed witches. Historian Ronald Hutton says that, actually, when it came to witch-killing, the UK divided along Anglo-Saxon/Celtic lines: Wales and the Scottish Highlands on one side, England and the lowlands on the other. The Celts believed in fairies and so thought witches were OK; the Anglo-Saxons, influenced by Germany, did not.
Surprise! At the centre of this tale is a deeply flawed individual who makes others believe he’s some sort of messiah
As you can tell, there’s a lot of highly interesting research in this series. Prepare to have your cynical mind expanded. It helps that Rakusen is an excellent presenter. Her scripts are a delight: beautifully written and delivered. You sense that she really hopes that she too is a witch. An understandable desire: who hasn’t wanted the ability to point a finger at an enemy and turn them into a toad? The non-magic world has a way of wearing women down. I’ll be happy if Rakusen turns out witchy; but I hope that even if she does, she continues to weave her audio magic.
Here’s another Spellcaster: the title of Wondery’s new schaden-fraud series. And, yes, I mean schaden-fraud: it’s my label for that subset of true crime podcasts in which a charismatic huckster convinces crowds to part with their money, proceeds to soar to the top by riding those billions, and then… crashes. Think The Dropout, about Theranos and Elizabeth Holmes, or The Missing Crypto Queen, about Ruja Ignatova. These podcasts have a tendency to end up as Netflix series.
Spellcaster is about crypto billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried. Which, let’s face it, is an amazing name for a crypto bro. A fried banker. Or, given the American pronunciation of Fried, a freed banker. Either way, a money guy without the usual restraints. Anyway, just over a year ago, Bankman-Fried was seen as the future of crypto-currency. He had two companies: FTX (a crypto exchange platform) and Alameda Research (a crypto trading company). The ridiculous profits they made were, said Bankman-Fried, to be invested into ethical projects. For – lo! – he was making money to save the world.
FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried speaking at a Senate hearing in Washington, DC last year. Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images
Bloomberg reporter Hannah Miller is our host, and she’s a good one: not only an excellent journalist but someone with a proper “in” to the story. Via a bachelorette party she gets to know Caroline Ellison, Bankman-Fried’s sometime girlfriend and head of Alameda Research. Miller interviews her and feels that something is off…
Crypto is not something I’m interested in. (It really does remind me of dark magic: it only works if you believe it does.) But Miller, along with fellow reporters Max Chafkin and Annie Massa, is wise enough to make this podcast a story about people, rather than witchy money. And – surprise! – at the centre of this tale is a deeply flawed individual who makes others believe he’s some sort of messiah. Honestly, if I were a financial adviser, I’d make every one of my clients listen to a schaden-fraud podcast series before opening their wallet. Everyone would be richer – though we’d have fewer excellent stories such as this one to enjoy.
Speaking of brilliant stories, Helena Bonham Carter has one about a fascinating spy. In History’s Secret Heroes, she turns her script-reading skills to good effect, recounting tales of derring-do from the second world war. Written by the clever historian and author Alex von Tunzelmann, these stories are true and fabulous. First up is Virginia Hall, a posh American who moved to Izmir, where she managed to blow her own foot off in a shooting accident. To save her life, her left leg was amputated below the knee. This, as you might surmise, was a turning point in Hall’s life. But instead of taking it easy, she resolved to live adventurously and ended up as a spy in Vichy France, masterminding the breakout of prisoners in a more efficient, less soil-down-trousers Great Escape.
Bonham Carter is a lovely reader, fruity and upbeat, propelling the story along without showboating. If the rest of the episodes are as fun as this one, it will be a thoroughly enjoyable series.
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The First Celebrity Tell-All | Nathaniel Rich | September 22, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
In folklore, witches are said to ride on brooms during their nocturnal activities. The sound of the broom bristles brushing against the air creates a whooshing sound that is both enchanting and eerie. When casting spells or performing rituals, witches are often depicted chanting or reciting incantations. These chants are usually in an ancient language or a combination of words that are unintelligible to the listener. The rhythm and intonation of these chants add to the mystical aura surrounding witches and their magical abilities. In addition to their chants, witches are often portrayed as whispering or murmuring to themselves. This whispering can be heard when they are in deep concentration, communicating with spirits, or planning their wicked deeds. The whispering sound adds an element of secrecy and intrigue to the witch's actions. Finally, the sound of bubbling cauldrons is another iconic sound of a witch. Cauldrons are often depicted as large, black, and boiling pots in which witches brew their potions and concoctions. The bubbling sound of the cauldron adds to the magical and mysterious nature of witchcraft. Overall, the sounds associated with witches play a crucial role in setting the mood and atmosphere in stories, movies, and folklore. From their cackling laughter to the sounds of their brooms, chants, whispers, and bubbling cauldrons, these sounds immerse us in the mystical world of witches and leave a lasting impression on our imagination..
Reviews for "Witch's Brew: The Unconventional Soundscape of Magic Potions"
1. Sarah - 2/5 stars
I was really disappointed with "Sounds of a Witch". The storyline was confusing and lacked depth. The characters felt one-dimensional and their actions made little sense. I also found the writing style to be dull and uninspiring. Overall, I couldn't connect with the story and it left me unsatisfied.
2. Mark - 1/5 stars
I can't believe the hype around "Sounds of a Witch". It was one of the most tedious books I have ever read. The pacing was incredibly slow and the plot seemed to go nowhere. The author's attempts at creating tension and suspense fell flat, leaving me completely uninterested in what was happening. I couldn't wait to finish this book and I would not recommend it to anyone.
3. Emily - 2/5 stars
I tried really hard to be engrossed in "Sounds of a Witch", but unfortunately, I just couldn't get into it. The writing style was overly descriptive and it became a chore to get through each page. The characters were forgettable and lacked depth, making it difficult to care about their fates. Overall, this book didn't live up to my expectations and I was left feeling underwhelmed.