The Notwist are a German
indie rock band. Formed in 1989, the band moved through several musical incarnations, despite maintaining a relatively stable line-up. 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 strongly influenced by the
electronica
Electronica is both a broad group of electronic-based music styles intended for listening rather than strictly for dancing and a music scene that started in the early 1990s in the United Kingdom. In the United States, the term is mostly used to r ...
scene, along with the other groups on the record label,
Morr Music.
History
The Acher brothers and Messerschmid formed the group in 1989,
in
Weilheim in Oberbayern, 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.
Messerschmidt left the group in 2007, and was replaced by Andi Haberl. The band's sixth album, ''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.
In 2009, the Notwist recorded ''Storm'', the soundtrack to the
film of the same name by director
Hans-Christian Schmid. In late 2012 they began playing songs from a new album on tour. The album, ''
Close to the Glass'', was released on February 24, 2014 under Sub Pop Records.
In 2014,
Martin Gretschmann left the group.
In January 2015, ''
Close to the Glass'' was nominated for
IMPALA
The impala or rooibok (''Aepyceros melampus'') is a medium-sized antelope found in eastern and southern Africa. The only extant member of the genus '' Aepyceros'' and tribe Aepycerotini, it was first described to European audiences by Germa ...
's
European Independent Album of the Year Award.
Collaborations and side projects
The group has been remixed by
Four Tet,
Caribou
Reindeer (in North American English, known as caribou if wild and ''reindeer'' if domesticated) are deer in the genus ''Rangifer''. For the last few decades, reindeer were assigned to one species, ''Rangifer tarandus'', with about 10 subspe ...
,
Grizzly Bear
The grizzly bear (''Ursus arctos horribilis''), also known as the North American brown bear or simply grizzly, is a population or subspecies of the brown bear inhabiting North America.
In addition to the mainland grizzly (''Ursus arctos horri ...
,
Console, Loopspool,
Panda Bear and others. Singer Markus Acher also collaborated with
Anticon and rapper/producer
Alias on the song, "Unseen Sights". In 1991, Markus Acher made a noise, post rock band, Village of Savoonga,
in Weilheim, Germany. They released ''Village Of Savoonga'' (1992), ''Philipp Schatz'' (1996) and ''Score'' (1997).
The Notwist formed a group with
Themselves named
13 & God
13 & God is a collaboration between American indie hip hop duo Themselves and German indie rock band The Notwist. The group is signed both to Anticon and Alien Transistor.
History
The band's name 13 & God stems from the concept of the 12 apostl ...
, whose eponymous debut was released in 2005.
Markus Acher
The Notwist are a German indie rock band. Formed in 1989, the band moved through several musical incarnations, despite maintaining a relatively stable line-up. While their early records moved through heavy metal into dark indie rock, their re ...
, in addition to his work with The Notwist and 13 & God, also worked with the band
Lali Puna until his departure in 2017, while Mecki Messerschmidt now also plays drums for the reformed Schweisser. Micha Acher composes and programs for
Ms. John Soda.
Members
Current
* Markus Acher — guitars, vocals, keyboards, turntables (1989–present)
* Micha Acher — bass, keyboards (1989–present)
* Andi Haberl — drums (2007–present)
* Max Punktezahl of
Saroos — guitar, keyboards (present)
* Karl Ivar Refseth — vibraphone, percussion (present)
* Cico Beck of Joasihno — guitar, keyboards, percussion, electronics (present)
Former
* Martin Gretschmann (aka
Console and
Acid Pauli) —
programming, keyboards (1997–2014)
* Martin Messerschmid — drums (1989–2007)
Discography
Studio Albums
* ''
The Notwist
The Notwist are a German indie rock band. Formed in 1989, the band moved through several musical incarnations, despite maintaining a relatively stable line-up. While their early records moved through heavy metal into dark indie rock, their re ...
'' (1991)
* ''
Nook'' (1992)
* ''
12'' (1995)
* ''
Shrink
Shrink may refer to:
Common meanings
*Miniaturization
*Shrink, a slang term for:
** a psychiatrist
** a psychoanalyst
** a psychologist
Arts, entertainment, and media
* ''Shrink'' (album), album by German indie rock/electronica group The Notwist
...
'' (1998)
* ''
Neon Golden
''Neon Golden'' is the fifth studio album by German indie rock band The Notwist. It was released on 14 January 2002 by City Slang.
Composition
''Neon Golden'' is rooted in the experimental musical style that The Notwist had moved towards on t ...
'' (2002)
* ''
The Devil, You + Me'' (2008)
* ''Sturm'' (soundtrack, 2009)
* ''
Close to the Glass'' (2014)
* ''
The Messier Objects
The Messier Objects is the eighth studio album by German electronic band The Notwist
The Notwist are a German indie rock band. Formed in 1989, the band moved through several musical incarnations, despite maintaining a relatively stable li ...
'' (2015)
* ''
Vertigo Days
''Vertigo Days'' is the ninth studio album by German electronic band The Notwist. It was released on 29 January 2021 by Morr Music.
Release
On 31 July 2020, the Notwist's released the first single "Ship". The single features Japanese musician S ...
'' (2021)
Live Album
* ''Superheroes, Ghostvillains + Stuff'' (2016)
Singles and EPs
* ''Johnny and Mary'' EP (1994)
* ''Only in America'' EP (1996)
* ''
Untitled (Selections From 12)
The Notwist are a German indie rock band. Formed in 1989, the band moved through several musical incarnations, despite maintaining a relatively stable line-up. While their early records moved through heavy metal into dark indie rock, their re ...
'' 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)'' is a promotional EP of exclusively instrumental songs by German electronica band The Notwist used to promote their album Neon Golden
''Neon Golden'' is the fifth studio album by German indie rock band The Notwist. It was ...
'' EP (2002)
* ''Lichter'' EP (2003) (Soundtrack for the film
Distant Lights (''Lichter''))
* ''
Different Cars and Trains
''Different Cars and Trains'' is a 2003 EP from German electronica band the Notwist
The Notwist are a German indie rock band. Formed in 1989, the band moved through several musical incarnations, despite maintaining a relatively stable lin ...
'' EP (2003)
* ''Solo Swim'' EP (2004)
* "Where in this World" single (2008)
* "Boneless" single (2008)
* "Come In" single (2009)
* "Blank Air" single (2010)
* "Kong" single (2014)
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Notwist, The
German electronic music groups
German experimental musical groups
German indie rock groups
Musical groups established in 1989
Morr Music artists
Sub Pop artists
City Slang artists