The Notwist
The Devil, You + Me
Domino Records



Despite their woodland Bavarian roots, The Notwist’s new album The Devil, You + Me encompasses a huge range of warm euphoric tones not unlike a soft plume of opium smoke. The debut track entitled “Good Lies” discusses the good life, one full of sweet lies, in a style that bridges the gap between the sounds of Death Cab and Interpol, but with less hesitation and insecurity. Smooth and delicately crafted, the album weaves together soulful string arrangements throughout the work, showing a progressive movement from their original sonic metal experimentations from the late 1980’s. As the album moves along, electronic rhythms and loops are explored, adding tremendous musical textures and varieties ranging from rhythmically-charged to familiar and melancholic. The track “Where in This World” brings Thom Yorke’s haunting voice to mind as Markus Archer’s strained crooning voice gives an eerie touch to these more introspective songs. The lyrical themes of the album are equally profound in complexity and density, as notions of spiritual restlessness, the decay of the material world and other compelling existential questions are challenged. The Notwist’s droning themes and dark lyrical content suggest that they’re plagued by a Prufrockian 21st century paralysis, but the polarity of their sound gives the optimistic edge that they’re striving for purposive movement which gets countered again in never ending continuance. On the whole, The Devil, You + Me is a microcosm of unending spiritual disparity that renews itself yet again for the next divergent sound.