The Notwist Lee's Palace October 10, 2008

Between 2002 and 2007, The Notwist's web page was a swirling mess of geometric shapes and numbers. Clicking on any of those would create a pop-up window filled, likewise, with a swirling mess of geometric shapes and numbers. To say these two Germans are secretive would be a serious understatement.

At the end of last year, that indecipherable site was replaced by a two-minute video of an orchestra being recorded in a school gymnasium for what would eventually become the long-awaited follow-up to their landmark Neon Golden. Admirers immediately swooned in anticipation.

As things stand a year later, fans have mixed feelings about the new disc, You, The Devil + Me, but the need to catch The Notwist live is not debatable; they've only been in Toronto twice this decade, and considering the pace at which they make albums, it's safe to assume they won't be back for many more years.

As if they could sense the wants of the collective fanboy unconscious, The Notwist chose to focus heavily on Neon Golden material. It was exactly the set that everyone in Lee's had been waiting for - at some times haunting, at others powerful - tracks often morphing into one another to create 20-minute jams. This was the kinda stuff that can get you high without the use of illegal narcotics.

One of the lads had some sort of device rigged whereby he was operating effects machines with Nintendo Wii remotes. Trippy stuff.

One of the best shows of the year.

(5/5)