German assembled band Notwist have been around
for over a decade now, perfecting their pop
craftsmanship through the years. They set out with a sound that was caught somewhere between punk and
post-rock. Since then, they've evolved into pop
sensations echoing the haunting sounds of Joy Division
blended with the energy of JD's heirs New Order, and it's lovely.

By fusing the essential elements of pop, techno, and
punk, the Notwist have created a masterpiece of
hypnotic pop experimentation. Neon Golden's opener,
"One Step Inside Doesn't Mean You Understand" is a
slow-building wunder-werk complete with soothing
vocals over the pops and glitches of a scratchy
record. The sound isn't far from most of the tracks
on Radiohead's Kid A, though more streamlined and
accessibly structured.

Singer Markus Archer's
sincerity shines through with words like, "In your
world my feet are out of step, my arms don't move, my
hands won't grab. I will never read your stupid map,
so don't call me incomplete, you are the freak."
"Pilot," "Pick Up the Phone," and "Trashing Days"
exhibit the strengths of the album from beginning to
end. It's unique and beautiful.

Neon Golden is one of 2003's rarities that will sadly
fall through the cracks, unheard by most, but will
reverberate its unblemished sound into the hearts of
Notwist's enamored following. If there is any
group deserving attention this year, it's Notwist. So on behalf of their fans the world over, I'd like to say Danke Schoen.