notwist: messier objects

When The Notwist returned with their acclaimed seventh studio album Close to the Glass in early 2014, many were enchanted by the epic instrumental track "Lineri." It was the only instrumental track featured on that album, but according to Markus Acher, the band's vocalist, instrumental works had an important role in the album. Indeed, while the band's members pursued solo projects between 2008's The Devil, You + Me and 2014's Close to the Glass, The Notwist also composed instrumental works for several theater productions and radio plays, some of which are compiled here as The Messier Objects. The collection obviously brings to mind the ghosts of library music and '70s soundtracks, but can also be heard as a summary of the band's ever-evolving musical cosmos. The 17 featured pieces range from sample-based electronic collages to the buoyant post-rock of "Das Spiel ist aus." Whether the band is experimenting with modular synthesizers, analog percussion, or even horn sections ("Object 11"), there remains a constant flow of gentle grooves that makes this open-minded collection more than just a companion piece to Close to the Glass.