The Notwist - Messier Objects in concert at Radialsystem / 16. & 17.02.2019

With The Notwist, one of the most important and versatile German indie bands celebrate their 30th anniversary in 2019. Besides numerous celebrated albums and live shows around the globe, the band from Weilheim has again and again entered the dialogue with other art disciplines – for their soundtrack for Hans-Christian Schmid’s acclaimed film “Sturm”, they were awarded the German Film Prize in 2009. Within the series of UM:LAUT, the band presents a special set of works which they developed for collaborations with film, theatre and radio in recent years. In contrast to the regular, frequently sold-out concerts of The Notwist, these two exclusive shows at Radialsystem will mainly feature instrumental pieces – inspired by the album “Messier Objects”, released in 2015, and in interplay with projections by the video and performance artist Anton Kaun. From electronic collages to minimal music, from free jazz to post-rock experiments – a journey through the extraordinary oeuvre and the constantly expanding but unique musical cosmos of a great band.

The Notwist was founded in 1989 in the Upper Bavarian town of Weilheim by the brothers Markus und Micha Acher as well as Martin Messerschmidt, who were later joined by Martin Gretschmann (Console, Acid Pauli), Andi Haberl and Cico Beck, amongst others. With the release of the debut album in 1990, The Notwist were considered one of the most interesting German hardcore bands, before the guitar sounds were directed to more ordered realms on the following albums. This development culminated on the album “Neon Golden” of 2002 with a distinct but highly original combination of indie rock with sound innovations of electronic music. Beyond The Notwist, the Acher brothers were involved in the founding of numerous internationally successful bands such as Tied & Tickled Trio, Lali Puna, Ms. John Soda, or 13&God and operate at the centre of a network of more or less closely interconnected projects of local musicians. In this context many releases came into being on the label “Hausmusik” as well as on the label “Alien Transistor”, which they founded in 2003 and which is active until today. Besides various band activities, the musicians regularly work in the fields of film, theatre and radio, and they curate the music festival “Alien Disko” in Munich. After nine album releases and tours around the globe, The Notwist are – not least due to their mutability and adventurousness as well as their originality and recognition factor – regarded as one of the most important German bands.

UM:LAUT is a live platform for artists and labels availing themselves of various musical traditions, realising ambitious and unique projects regardless of genre boundaries. The focus of the series, which is curated by Ben Czernek and Hannes Frey, lies on the experimental range between classical and electronic instrumentation, composition and improvisation, club and concert hall. Considering itself an open stage for cooperations between artists of different disciplines, UM:LAUT aims to present music in dialogue with other art forms – music giving impulses to film, video, photography, installation, dance and performance.