For most bands the answer is simple and thus: more of the same.
But for The Notwist, this is most certainly not the case. Formed in 1989 in Germany (a very auspicious year all round for the country) they have been consistently taking the The Notwist bus in every musical direction they can find.
From early heavy metal sound, into lustrous and thoughtful indie-rock, more recently dabbling with electronica, and now fusing all these disparate influences into a wonderful amalgamation. The Notwist have been a consistently brave and adventurous band, willing to take the risk of redefining themselves at every opportunity.
Their latest single, ‘Kong‘, is a wonderful slice of shuffling indie-rock, feeling akin to bands like Built To Spill and Stereolab, or the harder side of Belle & Sebastian/softer side of Sebadoh.
Taken from their structured and beautifully sparse new album ‘Close To The Glass‘,’Kong’ is the loose, passionate, warm beating heart of the record. A record that is charming and wistful, and so infused with exuberance it is hard not to get carried along for the ride.
This is a band with a sound and intelligence that sits proudly amongst label City Slang’s impressive roster, offering music that has been honed over time and crafted into a beautiful and energetic sound through experience and a willingness to experiment – ‘Kong’ sounds like the joyous culmination of this journey.
Currently on tour, with a number of UK dates between the 15th-18th March, The Notwist are not to be missed. With a back catalogue as impressive as it is diverse, and a new record of shimmering icy beauty, it is a rare opportunity to catch a truly impressive band at the peak of their powers.
