13 & God is an American and German electronic collaboration group between Weilheim, Germany-based The Notwist and Oakland, California-based anticon members Themselves. The group is signed both to anticon and Alien Transistor. They are joined live by Jordan Dalrymple who now plays Dax Pierson's parts following a 2005 Subtle tour accident which left Dax quadriplegic.
The band's name stems from the concept of the 12 apostles and Jesus Christ forming a group that comprises 13 mortal men as well as God. Distinguishing between The Notwist and Themselves in the context of which group is the '13' and which is 'God' is thus disingenuous; in the example above, God is inherently contained within the '13', creating a symbiotic relationship so strong it is unable to be severed. As 13 & God are not a Christian group, but do explore elements of philosophy, spirituality and existentialism, the name 13 & God is generally considered to be more of a reflection of those elements, as well as the concept of 'identity' itself.
In a recent interview with Pitchfork, Doseone was quoted as saying "in 2010 there will be a brand new shiny 13 & G record out in the world."[1] On the third of February 2011, a new album entitled "Own Your Ghost" was announced to be released on Anticon on May 17th 2011. The album is set to feature ten tracks, including a song written and performed on the 2007 tour, entitled "Sure as Debt" This announcement was accompanied by a preview clip of the song "Armoured Scarves" from the album (wikipedia)
As a seven-headed conglomerate comprised of two genre-pushing bands, 13 & God are admirably accessible and ego-free. Adam “Doseone” Drucker of Themselves keeps his scene-stealing vocal delivery succinct, stepping out altogether at times and even singing it straight at others. The recompense is the occasional, well-timed breakout of his galloping, head-spinning prose. It’s countered by bucolic vocals, acoustic guitars and glitch electronics from The Notwist, laying down some typically sublime cuts.
Album highlight Armored Scarves is indicative of what works best with this side-project, a rich tapestry of disparate vocal harmonies and staccato percussion that would fall apart with any attempt to study its constituent parts. At other times the delineations are clearer. It’s Own Sun will be pure Notwist to most ears, with follow-up Death Major much the same story for Themselves. No bad thing of course, and with 13 & God being touted as a bigger concern by both parties, Own Your Ghost should stand as a solid bedrock. [Darren Carle]
1. Its Own Sun (2:44)
2. Death Major (4:26)
3. Armored Scarves (4:29)
4. Janu Are (3:32)
5. Old Age (3:24)
6. Et Tu (3:18)
7. Death Minor (3:56)
8. Sure as Debt (3:49)
9. Beat on Us (5:06)
10. Unyoung (3:39)
ALBUMSTREAM
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