Markus and Michael Acher formed the group together with Martin Messerschmidt in Weilheim, near Munich. In 1990 they recorded their self-titled debut The Notwist, 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 electronica. Martin Gretschmann (aka Console) joined the group in 1997. Shrink, released in 1998, is a jazz-electro-rock album. The album Neon Golden (released in 2002) put them on the map for American listeners.
In 2003 the band started their own record label Alien Transistor and released a soundtrack for the movie Lichter by Hans-Christian Schmid. On September, 6th 2004 the EP Solo Swim came out, a collaboration between The Notwist, Console and Klimek, which is also the soundtrack for the documentary Kanalschwimmer by Jörg Adolph. Both EPs are only available on vinyl as is the latest EP by Rayon (Markus Acher), released in spring 2006.
Some of The Notwist's songs have been remixed by Four Tet, Manitoba, Console, Loopspool, and others. Singer Markus Acher collaborated with Anticon rapper/producer Alias on the song Unseen Sights.
The Notwist recently formed a supergroup with Themselves named 13 & God, whose eponymous debut was released in 2005. Other acts in which members of The Notwist are participating include Village of Savoonga, Tied & Tickled Trio, Lali Puna, Ms. John Soda, Potawatomi, Alles wie Groß, Ogonjok, Rayon, 3 Shades of Blues, Hometrainer, Bolzplatz Heroes, Alien Ensemble, and Schweisser.
In 2006, Messerschmitt left the band on friendly terms. Markus Acher stated that "it just didn't work anymore".
The Devil, You + Me and was released in Europe in May, 2008. On June 17, 2008 the album was released in North America on Domino Records.
2014 saw the release of Close to the Glass released in the US on Sub-Pop.
http://www.notwist.com
Members
* Markus Acher - guitar, vocals
* Michael Acher - bass
* Mecki Messerschmidt - drums
* Martin Gretschmann (aka Console) - programming
The Incredible Change of Our Alien
The Notwist Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He tried to be like us
He tried to kill all our friends
We locked him in a cage but he was still
Loud and so we left
We donÂ't know him anymore
We heard of him in 1985
When he died we didnÂ't shed a tear
This alien was ill.
We donÂ't love him anymore
Was nice to watch him play
With the big toys
We never thought he could be so cruel
You never watched him play with the big toys
without noticing there was something different about him. Maybe it was his curious gaze, or the way he moved, or the unfamiliar sounds that came out of his mouth. Yet, despite his alien nature, he tried to fit in, to imitate us and to learn our ways. However, something inside him snapped, and he turned on us, trying to kill our friends. We tried to contain him, to lock him in a cage, but even then he remained loud and unpredictable. In the end, we couldn't recognize him anymore, and when he died, we didn't feel any sadness. The incredible change that took over him had made him someone we could no longer love.
The lyrics of The Notwist's song The Incredible Change of Our Alien are a haunting reflection on what happens when we encounter something that is too foreign, too different from us to be understood or accepted. The alien in the song stands for all those aspects of life that we can't control or make sense of, and that scare us into trying to eradicate them. Yet, by doing so, we lose not only the other but also a part of ourselves. The song is an invitation to embrace the unfamiliar and recognize that our diversity is what makes us human.
Line by Line Meaning
One day he woke up and he was ill
The strange being suddenly became sick and diseased, affecting his ability to function normally.
He tried to be like us
The alien attempted to mimic human behavior and conform to our societal norms.
He tried to kill all our friends
The creature became hostile towards the humans and resorted to violent behavior, attacking their companions.
We locked him in a cage but he was still
The humans attempted to contain him in captivity, but even then he was still a dangerous entity.
Loud and so we left
The creature's loud and disruptive behavior caused the humans to abandon their efforts to control him.
We don't know him anymore
The creature's transformation made him unrecognizable and unfamiliar to the humans.
We heard of him in 1985
The humans received news of the creature's actions in 1985, indicating that he was still active and dangerous.
He attacked three people with a knife
The alien resorted to violence once again, targeting innocent individuals with a dangerous weapon.
When he died we didn't shed a tear
The humans did not grieve for the creature's death, as they had already distanced themselves emotionally from him due to his aggression.
This alien was ill
The creature's behavior was attributed to a mental or emotional illness, rather than innate viciousness.
We don't love him anymore
The humans no longer felt any affection or compassion for the once-entertaining being.
Was nice to watch him play
The humans initially enjoyed observing the creature's playful demeanor and imaginative antics.
With the big toys
The creature's favorite pastime was playing with large, intriguing objects that fascinated him.
We never thought he could be so cruel
The humans were taken aback by the creature's violent and malicious behavior, which seemed incongruous with his earlier demeanor.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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