The Notwist - Close to the Glass

The Notwist
Close to the Glass
24 February 2014
Sub Pop

3.5 stars out of 5

 

Bavaria’s The Notwist have had an incredibly varied twenty-five-year career, winding through metal and indie rock into the electronica terrain they’ve inhabited in recent years. Close to the Glass is their eighth proper studio LP, and it’s all over the map stylistically. From dark glitchy electronica to acoustic folk, it’s a caravan that’s taken several wrong turns to end up magically in the right place.

The title track is a bit like Autechre meets Einstürzende Neubauten musically, like Radiohead in its vocals, and like awesome in its execution. “Kong” is an indie rock rocker that begins with the guitars out front and the melody college radio-friendly before mutating into a Trans Am-like electronic jam. “Into Another Tune” features an array of different organic percussion, while “Casino” sees the band break out the acoustic guitar. “From One Wrong Place to the Next” is Kid A condensed into 2:44. “Run Run Run” blends an indie rock vocal melody with a twisted math rock structure and electronic instrumentation into a brooding five-minute song which is the centrepiece of the album. The closing “They Follow Me” haunts the deserted rooms of the home that kraut rock and indie electronica might have lived in had they got married and started a family.

Close to the Glass is a musically extroverted record performed by a bunch of emotionally reserved introverts. The vocal delivery has the coldness of Ralf Hütter (this is definitely not a bad thing). It’s fascinating that such a reserved manner of singing could pack such an emotional payload. On the other hand, one wonders what this band could do if it were a little less reserved and a little more unhinged.

reviewed by Richard Krueger