The Notwist und Gäste
Was für eine schöne Überraschung: Keine Geringeren als The Notwist präsentieren 2021 ein neues Album. »Vertigo Days« heißt der erste reguläre Studiolongplayer der deutschen Independent-Band seit sieben langen Jahren, der Nachfolger von »Close To The Glass« aus dem Jahr 2014.
Mit »Superheroes, Ghostvillains And Stuff« hatten The Notwist zudem 2016 das erste Livealbum ihrer Karriere veröffentlicht.
Insgesamt 14 Stücke warten auf »Vertigo Days«, außerdem eine spannende Liste mitwirkender internationaler Künstler. Denn neben dem Kerntrio, bestehend aus den Brüdern Markus und Micha Acher sowie Cico Beck, gibt es unter anderem Unterstützung vom amerikanischen Multiinstrumentalisten Ben LaMar Gay, der amerikanischen Jazzklarinettistin Angel Bat Dawid, der japanischen Sängerin Saya und der argentinischen Singer-Songwriterin Juana Molina.
Letztere ist im Song »Al Sur« zu hören, einer von mehreren Singleauskopplungen.
Und die zeigen: Zwischen Pop, Rock und Elektronik, Melancholie und Begeisterung ist The Notwist mit »Vertigo Days« wiedermal ein absolut vielseitiges Album gelungen. Wer sich selbst überzeugen will, kann es jetzt einfach online bestellen.
Wer bislang keinen Zugang zu The Notwist erlangen konnte, wird auf ihrem bislang stärksten Album vielleicht doch den Durchschlupf finden.
(stereoplay, Februar 2021)
During the seven years that separated Close to the Glass and Vertigo Days, the members of the Notwist ventured across the globe with other projects that gave them fresh ideas for the band's music. It's a creative process they've used since the days of Shrink, but the results are never exactly the same. This time, the Notwist question what it means to be in a band, and their seeking reveals homespun sweetness, seemingly ancient storytelling, and the majesty of an orchestra all in a single album. Vertigo Days' ranginess suits the Notwist; after all, they've always resisted easy categorization, and they've rarely sounded as loose and spontaneous as they do here (their 2016 live album Superheroes, Ghostvillains & Stuff comes the closest to its in-the-moment energy). The album's scope is so big that its smaller moments could get lost in the shuffle, but its details are just as memorable as its broad strokes. Vertigo Days' centerpiece "Into the Ice Age" does indeed reach dizzying heights with its crest of guitars, piano, saxophone, and Angel Bat Dawid's clarinet, yet the tiny, fuzzy interlude "Stars'' makes just as much of an impression. The album's sheer momentum carries along moments big and small, and its kinetic sweep reaches its peak on highlights like the dense, driving Juana Molina cameo "Al Sur'' and "Ship," which uses the contrast between its clanging Motorik beat and the delicate voice of Tenniscoats' Saya expertly. Longtime Notwist fans will be happy to hear them get back to the anything-goes heart of post-rock on songs such as the haunting "Oh Sweet Fire," where Markus Acher trades vocals with Ben LaMar Gay over instrumentation that folds hints of dub and jazz into its flow. Nor have they lost any of their ability to lock onto their listeners' emotions since Neon Golden became their breakthrough nearly 20 years prior: Acher still sounds effortlessly vulnerable on the ironically beaming "Sans Soleil" and when he sings about the necessity of togetherness and solitude on "Into Love/Stars." By the time Vertigo Days comes full circle with "Into Love Again," he
(by Heather Phares, All Music Guide)