Notwist - Neon Golden

by Benjamin Howarth

published: 12 / 2 / 2002

Label: City Slang
Format: CD

intro

Odd, surprisingly effective City Slang label release which combines Americana with electronica.

You can always trust the City Slang label to break music’s usual boundaries. The Notwist combine modern music’s most traditional style, Americana, and its most futuristic and progressive, electronica. It is not something one would imagine would work but it does. The album begins with the gentle picking of an acoustic guitar and a vocal that almost defines indie, a far from obvious melody sung nicely but not with any attempt to impress or be over the top. I loved it. The music on the first track builds up gently, but there are hints of a subtle electronic backing. What really holds the music together, though, is the keyboard. The track is slow, moody and atmospheric rather than catchy. At this point I was looking at the sticker on the front of the sleeve describing glowing reviews in mainstream magazines Mixmag and Q and wondering what the Hell they liked about it. The album never really answers thidquestion. I suppose it does become quite cheerful and melodic at times, especially on the beautiful 'Trashing Days” but can’t imagine it appealing either to hardcore electronica fans or pop fans. It does appeal to me though ! Despite their quirkiness, the band are definitely talented, and cover quite a variety of different styles. To label them as merely Americana or electronica is underestimating their ability as songwriters. The use of strings on some tracks adds to the atmosphere considerably, and feels perfectly natural. Essentially this is a highly impressive and unique piece of work, one that despite my trouble categorising it I found easy to enjoy, and surprisingly undemanding despite its progressive nature.

Track Listing:-

1 One Step Inside Doesn't Mean You Understand
2 Pilot
3 Pick Up The Phone
4 Thrashing Days
5 This Room
6 Solitaire
7 One With The Freaks
8 Neon Golden
9 Off The Rail
10 Consequence

Label Links:-

http://www.cityslang.com/splash/
https://www.facebook.com/cityslang
https://plus.google.com/+CitySlang/videos
https://twitter.com/cityslang
https://www.youtube.com/user/CitySlang

live reviews

Slim's, San Francisco, 15/4/2003

In what was a unique evening, drawing together "a crowd of indie kids, skaters, hip - hop head and Brit -poppers", Chris Jones enjoys an eclectic San Francsico show featuring Styrofoam, Themselves and the much acclaimed Notwist