The Notwist

Biography

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 scene, along with other groups on the record label Morr Music.

History

The Acher brothers and Messerschmidt formed the group in 1989, in Weilheim in Oberbayern, near Munich, from an earlier, more indie-folk version of the Notwist and the punk band Greatful Punishment. 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×Torture Day1995 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksATorture DayB1PanamaB2Electric Bear" by The Notwist. The album Neon Golden×Neon Golden14 January 2002 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1One Step Inside Doesn't Mean You Understand3:182Pilot4:313Pick Up the Phone3:584Trashing Days3:265This Room4:476Solitaire3:327One With the Freaks3:408Neon Golden5:569Off the Rails3:3010Consequence5:13 (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×The Devil, You + Me2 May 2008 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Good Lies5:232Where in This World4:393Gloomy Planets4:504Alphabet3:025The Devil, You + Me3:396Gravity3:567Sleep3:468On Planet Off5:069Boneless2:5510Hands on Us4:2911Gone Gone Gone2:10, 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×Close to the Glass12 February 2014 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Signals3:412Close to the Glass2:583Kong4:314Into Another Tune3:575Casino3:146From One Wrong Place to the Next2:4577-Hour-Drive3:578The Fifth Quarter of the Globe0:499Run Run Run5:0510Steppin’ In2:0011Lineri8:5212They Follow Me5:41, 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's European Independent Album of the Year Award.

Musical style and influences

The Notwist's music has at different times been described as indie rock and post-rock. The band has cited such bands as Stereolab, My Bloody Valentine, the Pastels, Broadcast, and Sonic Youth as consistent influences on their music.

Collaborations and side projects

The group has been remixed by Four Tet, Caribou, Grizzly Bear, 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 founded Village of Savoonga,a more experimental ensemble that incorporates noise, post rock and even neoclassical elements in Weilheim, Germany. The band, that included elements of Tied & Tickled Trio, Fred Is Dead and others, released Village Of Savoonga (1992), Philipp Schatz (1996) and Score (1997).
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 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.

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)
Theresa Loibl - bass clarinet, harmonium, and keyboard (present)

Former

Martin Gretschmann (aka Console and Acid Pauli) — programming, keyboards (1997–2014)
Martin Messerschmid — drums (1989–2007)

Studio albums

The Notwist (1991)
Nook (1992)
12 (1995)
Shrink (1998)
Neon Golden (2002)
The Devil, You + Me (2008)
Sturm (soundtrack, 2009)
Close to the Glass (2014)
The Messier Objects (2015)
Vertigo Days (2021)
News from Planet Zombie (2026)

Live Album

Superheroes, Ghostvillains + Stuff (2016)
Vertigo Days - Live from the Alien Research Center (2023)

Singles and EPs

Johnny and Mary EP (1994)
Only in America EP (1996)
Untitled (Selections From 12) EP (1997)
"Day 7×Day 71997 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Day 7 (intro)2Day 73Your Signs4Noah (Nov. 96 version)5Your Signs (instrumental)" single (1997)
"Chemicals×Chemicals1998 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Chemicals2Another Planet (Version)3No Encores (Console Version)" single (1998)
"Trashing Days×Trashing Days2001 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksATrashing Days (Neon Golden remix)BNeon Golden (Console remix)" single (2001)
"Pilot×Pilot21 January 2002 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Pilot4:312Pilot (Console remix)4:563Different Cars and Trains (Loopspool version)5:47" single (2001)
"Pick Up the Phone×Pick Up the Phone2002 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Pick Up the Phone3:582Red Room6:133This Room (Four Tet & Manitoba remix)8:08" single (2002)
"One With the Freaks×One With the Freaks2002 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1One With the Freaks3:37" single (2002)
Untitled (Scoop) EP (2002)
Lichter EP (2003) (Soundtrack for the film Distant Lights (Lichter×Lichter4 August 2003 · Single · SoundtrackSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Lichter 12Lichter 23Lichter (Console remix)4Lichter 3))
Different Cars and Trains EP (2003)
Solo Swim EP (2004)
"Where in this World×Where in This WorldApril 2008 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAWhere in This World4:36BSleep (Odd Nosdam remix)3:12" single (2008)
"Boneless×Boneless7 July 2008 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Boneless2:592Come In3:40" single (2008)
"Come In×Come In27 November 2009 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksACome In3:44BBoneless (Grizzly Bear remix)2:52" single (2009)
"Blank Air" single (2010)
"Kong" single (2014)