As the Notwist worked together on its new album, Close To The Glass (Sub Pop), the trio felt the songs were going in too many directions. Ultimately, the band gave up on finding a center and embraced the diversity. “With this record, there were no rules anymore,” says frontman Markus Acher. This outcome makes perfect sense when considering the band’s history. The Notwist is all about exploring possibilities: of the interface of acoustic and electronic, the planned and the unplanned, collaboration and revision, evolution and experimentation. The group has released only seven albums over the course of a 25-year career, and Close To The Glass is only the second since 2002’s landmark Neon Golden. Acher will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our brand new feature on the band.
Markus Acher: There are times when I can listen to nothing else than the music of American composer David Lang. Especially while driving in the car. I really got addicted to it. He writes music that has a very strong idea and clear vision, but on the other hand is very emotional. It dances to its very own, very complex groove. And it does, what many contemporary composers claim to do; it breaks boundaries. I can link his music to so many others, that I love … minimal music, of course, but lots of indie pop, film music, electronic music, old music, jazz. He found his own, unique language, making genres useless.
Video after the jump.
