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 String
The Notwist Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They put that string into your head.
It made such terrifying noise
That you wished that you were dead.
You have been thrown
To be the stone
That kills the people who once left you all alone
These are the things you'll die for.
The lyrics to The Notwist's song The String are highly symbolic and offer a piercing critique of modern society's system of control. The song begins with a reference to a "string" that has been inserted into the singer's head, which produces a "terrifying noise" and instills a sense of hopelessness so profound that he wishes for death. The string can be understood as a metaphor for the mechanisms of social and political control that are imposed on individuals by the powerful.
The next line, "You have been thrown to be the stone," further emphasizes this point by suggesting that the singer has been used as a pawn in a larger game, thrown like a stone to destroy others who have similarly been turned into weapons. The final lines, "That kills the people who once left you all alone / These are the things you'll die for," asks us to consider the tragic consequences of systemic oppression, as the victim becomes the perpetrator of violence against their own community. It's a powerful commentary on the cycle of violence and trauma engendered by systems of power and control.
Line by Line Meaning
That was the day
The beginning of when something changed dramatically.
They put that string into your head.
Someone inserted a powerful idea or belief into your mind.
It made such terrifying noise
The idea or belief was so intense and disturbing that it felt unbearable.
That you wished that you were dead.
The mental and emotional pain was so overwhelming that death seemed like a better option.
You have been thrown
You have been forced into a situation beyond your control.
To be the stone
You are being used as a weapon against others.
That kills the people who once left you all alone
You are now seeking revenge against those who hurt you in the past.
These are the things you'll die for.
The pain, anger, and desire for revenge are so strong that they may ultimately lead to your own destruction.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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