Customer Reviews

13 & God

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Themselves are an obscure independent hip hop group, very experimental/weird and also very good and successfully creative. Dose One and Jel, emcee and producer respectively, work very good together and started off rather conventional with their self titled album. Two years later they release a follow up that is more experimental. It was good, but not consistent enough I thought. A year later they re-release their follow up with different artists incorporating different genres to remix their songs. One of those artists to remix a song was The Notwist. Coincidentally, I felt that song was one of the better remixes on the album.

Fast forward two years to May 3rd and wouldn't you know it? They collaborate on an entire album together. After Dose and Jel formed Subtle and released "A New White", this progression today actually seems on track. And this is a damn good collaboration, by the way. We are hearing each groups styles fusing into a sound that is somewhat unique to both.

"Perfect Speed" features singing by The Notwist, but has the hip hop style of production from Themselves. This is my personal favorite from the album. It has an awesome beat complemented with melodic singing and music. "Soft Atlas" has Dose returning to rapping. Which he does wonderfully over a very nice, soft beat. "Ghostwork" features singing from Dose, who likes to layer his vocals with a lower pitched voice and a higher nasally voice. I can understand how some people might have trouble accepting his weird sound, but I personally enjoy it and therefore this song works for me. "Tin Strong" is another Dose song featuring both of the previous mentioned vocal styles over another nice beat with a little help vocally from The Notwist. "Men Of Station" is the first single from the album, it's more of a Notwist song, but Dose helps a little with the vocals. This song sports a nice piano melody. Other notables are "Superman On Ice", which features a nice melancholy violin, "Low Heaven" and "If".

This may not be the best from both fields (it's going to be hard for The Notwist to ever top "Neon Golden") but it's something fans of either group will likely look at and agree it was a successful collaboration, worthy of your attention and money. So, buy it and support independent acts, you know you're tempted!!

"Without a universal law, there is no gravity. Without the gravity, there is no atmosphere. Without an atmosphere, there is no chance in life. Without a chance in life, I don't exist."

Really, this is without question one of the best albums I've heard all year. Doseone is showing amazing development as an artist, and with this album he comes accross as something of a visionary. It's a layered juxtaposition of the abstract hip hop electronics of Themselves and the mellow electronic rock of Notwist (an amazing band as well; think "the Postal Service," but actually good).

Everyone should at least give this album a listen. It may not be your thing, but it's definitely leaps and bounds more interesting than the majority of other music that's been surfacing lately. This record is inspired and impossible to classify in any genre box.

Also, they put on an absolutely incredible live show. If you get a chance to catch them live, you won't regret it.
Also, if you like this album, you might want to check out the new(erish) Subtle album "A New White." It's more of a Doseone project, but it holds an equally inspired irreverence towards convention.

I can not stop listening to this album. I love the notwist, and when I heard that they were involved I had to check it out. I'm not usually a fan of hip-hop, but this isn't like it at all. It's fun and different. One of those CDs where you can lie in bed, or drive around and enjoy it still. Men of station is my favorite song, sooooo good.

If i could i would give this CD 10 stars. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G

A surprising collaboration between two innovators - Notwist and Themselves - which is nothing but a dark, gloomy and absolutely beautiful experiment. Melodies that will stay with you long after you turn off your stereo.

This is easily the best anticon release from 2005, and one of the best anticon albums, ranking with Deep Puddle Dynamics, though not quite as long. If you like doseone, prepare to see a new side of him. He still has his old voice, but his seamless ability to flow his lyrics over beats is superb here. Markus Acher also sounds great, but he often just has a few lines that are repeated, such as in Men of Station,Perfect Speed, and Afterclap. All these songs are extremely superb. My only dissapointment is Walk, which isn't really a song, but provides a creepy end to the album. If you are into either the Notwist or Themselves, I would suggest this album strongly. If you are looking for something new to try, this would also be a great choice.

This is easily one of the most amazing bands/artists I have ever heard. I'm not exaggerating. The mix of beats and unorthodox instruments that these six talented artists use in their songs is simply amazing. They have some of the greatest songs to sleep or chill to. The voice of Markus Acher matches the beat and melody of each song with perfection. The best songs would probably be Soft Atlas, Superman On Ice, and Ghostwork. I recommend this cd to anyone who enjoys music and would love to get hold of another amazing group.

I can't get enough of this album. Unlike anything I've heard before. I have been a huge doseone & Jel ( themselves, subtle ) fan for years. I also got into the notwist around the time 12 came out in the US. Needless to say I was psyched to hear they were collaborating. This album surpassed my expectations. This is truly unique and beautiful music. Go see them live if you ever have the opportunity.

Amazing. Gorgeous. Inspired. Layers on Layer's sound layered layers. If Sundays went to School, 13 would be the Youngsters and God the touch.

A complex and cohert sonic artwork. An alternate music reality with merged and layered tracks. Where Pink Floyd might have gone if reincarnated. Men of Station is the most gripping, but the whole album is terrific. Soft Atlas is deliciously creepy. Lots of strange scientific, biological, and surgical references.

Indie hip hop and German electronica? Doesn't sound like a matching pair. It didn't to me either. I checked this album out of curiousity, and found that it was amazing. This album really is just amazing. Men of Station, Perfect Speed, and my favorite, Tin Strong, are all genius songs you never would have expected to happen. Give this album a chance, you won't be dissapointed, no matter who you are.