The Notwist
Encyclopedia
The Notwist ˈ
are a German
indie rock
band. Formed in 1989, the band moved through several musical incarnations despite maintaining a relatively stable lineup. While their early records moved through heavy metal into dark indie rock
, their recent efforts for which they have received the most attention have been very strongly influenced by the electronica
scene, along with the other groups on the record label Morr Music
.
, near Munich
.
In 1990 they recorded their self-titled debut, a grunge-metal oriented LP. 1992 saw the release of Nook, which has an indie rock sound, while their 1995 album 12 contains their first flirtation with electronics. Martin Gretschmann then joined the group in 1997. Shrink, released in 1998, is a jazz-electro-rock album. In 1998 Cynthia Dall
did the vocals for a remix of "Torture Day" by The Notwist. The album Neon Golden (released in 2002) put them on the map for American
listeners, with its heartfelt sentiment and more pop-oriented sound.
The group has been remixed by Four Tet
, Caribou
, Console
, Loopspool, Panda Bear
and others. Singer Markus Acher also collaborated with anticon. and rapper/producer Alias
on the song "Unseen Sights".
The Notwist formed a group with Themselves
named 13 & God
, whose eponymous debut was released in 2005. Markus Acher, in addition to his work with The Notwist and 13 & God, also works with the band Lali Puna
, while Mecki Messerschmidt now also plays drums for the recently reformed Schweisser
. Michael Acher composes and programs for Ms. John Soda
.
Messerschmidt left the group in 2007 and was replaced by Andi Haberl. The band's sixth full-length record, The Devil, You + Me, was released in Europe in May, 2008. On June 17, 2008 the album was released in North America on Domino Records. A free mp3 is up for download on the City Slang website and at the album's official site.
In 2009 they recorded Storm, a soundtrack to the film of the same name from Hans-Christian Schmid
.
are a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band. Formed in 1989, the band moved through several musical incarnations despite maintaining a relatively stable lineup. While their early records moved through heavy metal into dark indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
, their recent efforts for which they have received the most attention have been very strongly influenced by the electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
scene, along with the other groups on the record label Morr Music
Morr Music
Morr Music is an independent record label based in Berlin, Germany, founded in 1999 by Thomas Morr. Most artists on the label fall into the categories of intelligent dance music, electronica and dreampop, but all reflect Thomas Morr's personal taste...
.
History
The Acher brothers and Messerschmid formed the group in 1989 in Weilheim in OberbayernWeilheim in Oberbayern
Weilheim in Oberbayern is a town in Germany, the capital of the district Weilheim-Schongau in the south of Bavaria.Weilheim has an old city-wall, historic houses and a museum.-Sport:...
, near Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
.
In 1990 they recorded their self-titled debut, a grunge-metal oriented LP. 1992 saw the release of Nook, which has an indie rock sound, while their 1995 album 12 contains their first flirtation with electronics. Martin Gretschmann then joined the group in 1997. Shrink, released in 1998, is a jazz-electro-rock album. In 1998 Cynthia Dall
Cynthia Dall
Cynthia Dall is a lo-fi musician and photographer. Dall also gained notoriety in the fanzine world of the 90s for her frequent transgressive-styled cover shots and appearances in Lisa Carver's Rollerderby magazine.-Biography:Dall started recording and performing with then-boyfriend, Bill Callahan...
did the vocals for a remix of "Torture Day" by The Notwist. The album Neon Golden (released in 2002) put them on the map for American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
listeners, with its heartfelt sentiment and more pop-oriented sound.
The group has been remixed by Four Tet
Four Tet
Kieran Hebden is a post-rock and electronic musician. Hebden first came to prominence as a member of the band Fridge before establishing himself as a solo artist under the moniker of Four Tet....
, Caribou
Caribou (musician)
Daniel Victor Snaith is a composer, musician and recording artist under stage names Caribou, Manitoba and Daphni. Under the supervision of Kevin Buzzard, he obtained a PhD in mathematics at Imperial College London.- Career:...
, Console
Console (musician)
Console is an electronic music project by Martin Gretschmann, the lead programmer for German band Notwist. Relying heavily on elements of electronic music, Console's music is reminiscent of some electro bands, such as Ladytron and Miss Kittin....
, Loopspool, Panda Bear
Panda Bear (musician)
Noah Benjamin Lennox also known as Panda Bear, is an experimental musician and a founding member of Animal Collective.-Early life:...
and others. Singer Markus Acher also collaborated with anticon. and rapper/producer Alias
Alias (artist)
Brendon Whitney, known as Alias, is an abstract hip hop musician and producer. He is mainly affiliated with the anticon. label/collective.-Biography:...
on the song "Unseen Sights".
The Notwist formed a group with Themselves
Themselves
Themselves is an Oakland-based hip hop group, made up of rapper Doseone and producer Jel . Dax Pierson, from the affiliated group Subtle, has played keyboards for the group, though he is not considered an official member. To date, the group has released three full-length albums and two singles...
named 13 & God
13 & God
13 & God is an American and German electronic collaboration group between Weilheim, Germany-based The Notwist and Oakland, California-based anticon members Themselves. The group is signed both to anticon and Alien Transistor. They are joined live by Jordan Dalrymple who now plays Dax Pierson's...
, whose eponymous debut was released in 2005. Markus Acher, in addition to his work with The Notwist and 13 & God, also works with the band Lali Puna
Lali Puna
Lali Puna is an experimental electropop band from Weilheim, Germany . Founded in 1998 by Korea-born Valerie Trebeljahr , other members include Markus Acher , Christoph Brandner and Christian Heiß . The latter joined Lali Puna in 2003, after keyboard player Florian Zimmer had left the band...
, while Mecki Messerschmidt now also plays drums for the recently reformed Schweisser
Schweisser
Schweisser is a German heavy metal band that formed in 1990. They produced five albums before breaking up in 2001.In 2006, lead singer Tommi Böck revived the band, although he is the only remaining original member. Martin Messerschmidt from The Notwist and Fabian Exter joined him...
. Michael Acher composes and programs for Ms. John Soda
Ms. John Soda
Ms. John Soda is an indietronic band from Weilheim, Germany. Their members are Stefanie Böhm singing, and Michael Acher the main composer and programmer of the songs.A side project of sorts, Ms...
.
Messerschmidt left the group in 2007 and was replaced by Andi Haberl. The band's sixth full-length record, The Devil, You + Me, was released in Europe in May, 2008. On June 17, 2008 the album was released in North America on Domino Records. A free mp3 is up for download on the City Slang website and at the album's official site.
In 2009 they recorded Storm, a soundtrack to the film of the same name from Hans-Christian Schmid
Hans-Christian Schmid
Hans-Christian Schmid is a German film director and screenwriter.-Life and work:Hans-Christian Schmid has collaborated with Michael Gutmann on several of his the film that he has directed. Gutmann wrote screenplays for 23 - Nichts ist so wie es scheint , and Crazy...
.
Current members
- Markus Acher - guitar, vocals (1989–present)
- Michael Acher - bass (1989–present)
- Martin Gretschmann (aka ConsoleConsole (musician)Console is an electronic music project by Martin Gretschmann, the lead programmer for German band Notwist. Relying heavily on elements of electronic music, Console's music is reminiscent of some electro bands, such as Ladytron and Miss Kittin....
) - programmingProgramming (music)Programming is a form of music production and performance using electronic devices, often sequencers or computer programs, to generate music. Programming is used in nearly all forms of electronic music and in most hip hop music since the 1990s. It is also frequently used in modern pop and rock...
(1997–present) - Andi Haberl - drums (2007–present)
Former members
- Martin Messerschmidt - drums (1989–2007)
Albums
- The NotwistThe Notwist (album)The Notwist is the self-titled debut album from the German musical group The Notwist. The record presents a side of the band which has subsided considerably during their recent recordings...
(1990) - NookNook (album)Nook is the second full studio album by The Notwist. The album explores the band's earlier sound of hardcore and punk as opposed to electronica...
(1992) - Your Choice Live Series Vol.20Your Choice Live Series 020Your Choice Live Series 020 is a official live album containing material by The Notwist . It was recorded live at "Logo" in Hamburg / Germany by "Norddeutscher Rundfunk" on January 11, 1994 and the "Kulturstation" in Munich / Germany by Andy Jung on the February 26, 1993. "Unsaid Undone" was...
(1994) - 12 (1995)
- ShrinkShrink (album)Shrink is the fourth album by German indie rock/electronica group The Notwist. The album is notable for its movement away from the group's punk origins and including elements of electronica, ambient, and jazz.-Track listing:#"Day 7" – 5:55...
(1998) - Neon GoldenNeon GoldenNeon Golden is the fifth studio album by German indie rock band The Notwist. It was released in 2002 in Europe and 2003 in the United States to favourable reviews.The album's release and its success in the US has secured the band a sizable fan community....
(2002) - The Devil, You + MeThe Devil, You + MeThe Devil, You + Me is the sixth studio album by German indie rock band The Notwist. It was released in May 2008.The first single was "Where in This World", for which a promo video was released to the media.-Track listing:#"Good Lies" – 5:23...
(2008) - Storm (soundtrack, 2009)
Singles & EPs
- Johnny and Mary EP (1994)
- Only in AmericaOnly in America (The Notwist EP)Only in America is a 1996 promotional-only EP from German band The Notwist which was released exclusively in the United States. Though the release of the EP was primarily to promote the band's then-current album 12, it contains one track from their 1992 sophomore record Nook as well as the...
EP (1996) - Untitled (Selections From 12)Untitled (Selections From 12) (The Notwist EP)Untitled is a 1997 promotional-only EP from German band The Notwist which was released exclusively in the United States. Though the release of the EP was primarily to promote the band's then-current album 12, it contains one track from their 1992 sophomore record Nook as well as the non-album...
EP (1997) - Day 7 single (1997)
- Chemicals single (1998)
- Trashing Days single (2001)
- Pilot single (2001)
- Pick Up the Phone single (2002)
- One With the Freaks single (2002)
- Untitled (Scoop)Untitled (Scoop) (The Notwist EP)Untitled is a promotional EP of exclusively instrumental songs by German electronica band The Notwist used to promote their album Neon Golden. After the success of Neon Golden, subsequent re-releases of the album contained the tracks from this EP as bonus songs....
EP (2002) - Lichter EP (2003) (Soundtrack for the film Distant LightsDistant LightsDistant Lights is a 2003 Germany film directed by Hans-Christian Schmid. The film takes place on the Polish-German border at Słubice and Frankfurt . It features an ensemble cast, and the various threads illustrate the daily life between the two countries...
(Lichter)) - Different Cars and TrainsDifferent Cars and TrainsDifferent Cars and Trains is a 2003 EP from German electronica band The Notwist.-Track listing:#"Neon Golden " - 4:46#"Pilot " - 4:55...
EP (2003) - Solo Swim EP (2004)
- Where in this World single (2008)
- Boneless single (2008)
- Come In Single (2009)
- Blank Air single (2010)