The Notwist
Shrink

THE REVIEW

Let's be clear, guys, it will be incredibly difficult for you to find Shrink anywhere in the world, and indeed I am writing this review to annoy all those who, like me, have fallen madly in love with "Neon Golden". After a year of desperate searches, I managed to find this album, and I must say it was worth the search.

The Notwist (now I'm sure of it) have a unique way of writing pop songs. Their unmistakable guitar sound, the unique timbre of Markus Acher's small voice, so sweet you never want to stop listening to it. Also inimitable is the work of their "electronic man" Martin Gretschmann, capable of (interesting? absurd?) solo projects that I was able to appreciate even live, in May, before the group’s full performance.

In short, the sum of these components produces 10 wonderful tracks (including 3 excellent instrumentals) tinged with that melancholy we are so fond of. Melodies so simple, that no one had ever thought of them before.

The perfect opening with "Day 7" (I count the letters of your name, I count the days till you are here again); then comes the grace of "Chemicals," which when it lights up, is a blow to the heart. "Another Planet" is almost emo-core, while "No Encores" is the synthesis of Notwist-musik. "Shrink" however reaches its peak with the eponymous song, which I had to listen to about thirty times to be sure that such a beautiful song could exist... insistent percussion, the guitar follows it, his voice, and a universe of emotions that crashes around you.

Incredible Notwist, every one of my emotions is here, inside these two albums, and I don’t know how they manage to know me so well.