The Notwist

The Notwist
The Notwist live in Zagreb
Background information
Origin	Weilheim in Oberbayern, Germany
Genres	Indie rock, electronica, plinkerpop,[1] Post-Rock,[2] Post-Hardcore (early) [3]
Years active	1989–present
Labels	Morr Music
Website	Official website
Members
Markus Acher Michael Acher Andi Haberl Martin Gretschmann
Past members
Martin Messerschmidt

The Notwist /ˈnoʊ.twɪst/^[4] are a German indie rock band.^[5] 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.

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.

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.^[6] 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.

Members

Current members

• Markus Acher - guitar, vocals (1989–present)
• Michael Acher - bass (1989–present)
• Martin Gretschmann (aka Console) - programming (1997–present)
• Andi Haberl - drums (2007–present)

Former members

• Martin Messerschmidt - drums (1989–2007)

Discography

Albums

• The Notwist (1990)
• Nook (1992)
• Your Choice Live Series Vol.20 (1994)
• 12 (1995)
• Shrink (1998)
• Neon Golden (2002)
• The Devil, You + Me (2008)
• Storm (soundtrack, 2009)

Singles & EPs

• Johnny and Mary EP (1994)
• Only in America EP (1996)
• Untitled (Selections From 12) 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) EP (2002)
• Lichter EP (2003) (Soundtrack for the film Distant Lights (Lichter))
• Different Cars and Trains EP (2003)
• Solo Swim EP (2004)
• Where in this World single (2008)
• Boneless single (2008)
• Come In Single (2009)
• Blank Air single (2010)

References

1. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p207242
2. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/album/r660777
3. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/album/r591678
4. ^ Ioan Kaes (interviewer), Martin Gretschmann (2008-05-07) (Youtube video). The devil, you + Martin (Video interview). Cutting Edge. Event occurs at 1:20 and 2:40 – band member Martin Gretschmann pronounces the band's name. http://www.cuttingedge.be/videos/61672-the-notwist-interview. Retrieved 2008-07-07. 
5. ^ http://www.clevescene.com/2008-06-18/music/the-notwist/
6. ^ Thiessen, Brock."The Demonic Minds of the Notwist", Exclaim!, July 2008.

• [1]
• [2]
• [3]

External links

• The Notwist Official Site
• The Notwist at NPR Music
• www.alientransistor.de
• The Notwist discography at Discogs
• Concert photos in Roskilde Festival
• The Notwist at Pandora
• The Notwist at exclaim!
• The Notwist in Israel