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 13
& God
The transcontinental Supergroup
of The NOTWIST and THEMSELVES
13&God were founded in 2004,
when Themselves (Adam Doesone Drucker, Jeffrey Jel Logan,
Dax Pierson, Jordan Dalrymple) and The Notwist (Markus
and Micha Acher, Martin Gretschmann) met under adventurous
circumstances. According to the legend, the idea for
this very special project was established on a highway
close to the Canadian border. A burning notebook and
a stuffed fox are considered to play an important role
at that. In the music of this transcontinental supergroup,
experience meets curiosity, candidness is paired with
skills. The Notwist's handwriting, undoubtedly a blueprint
for experimental indie pop, is unmistakable. Nor is
the music of Anticon's Themselves. Not to mention the
fact that these very unequal musicians never stop letting
"themselves" be surprised by their own creativity and
of course the one of their colleagues. Markus Acher,
the voice of the Notwist, sings songs like balsam for
the soul, searching for consolation and absolution in
pop music. Songs that seem to cover topics like lonelyness
and being lost, even though the lyrics might say something
completely different. Songs, subsuming our fears and
doubts into clear and beautiful harmonies. But when
Themselves grab the mics, everything changes. Suddenly,
there's not only this popsong anymore, but Hip Hop at
its truest nature. Hip Hop, however with a spin into
popmusic, but far away from the mainstream rap of these
days. About six years after releasing their self-titled,
highly acclaimed debut LP in 2005, they gave birth to
their long-awaited sophomore album "Own Your Ghost"
in May 2011 via Alien Transistor and Anticon. The listener
of this incomparable record enters a musical alternating
bath with unknown ending. Everything suddenly seems
possible: extremely sad, entrancing indie-hymns. Pin
sharp, rolling raps of Doseone, whose lightly nasal
voice sometimes reminds of Tricky. Over-chilled grooves.
Krautrock, banned on tracks. Melancholy, easiness…
Links
www.alientransistor.de
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