A Match Made in Heaven

Rather infrequently does the marriage of two opposing musical genres give birth to something of brilliance. However, the marriage of the most progressive band in the new indie/electronic music scene and possibly the most intriguing duo in underground Hip-Hop has shown us the light. 13 and God’s self-titled debut album is a mix of esoteric vocals, glitchy beats, and challenging structures. The Hip Hop duo, known as Themselves, provide the rhymes, while indie favorites The Notwist provide the layered, clicky music and subdued singing. The combination achieves moments of greatness when the roles become mixed and the structures become unpredictable. “Men of Station” initially could be mistaken for a Notwist b-side, but as it moves along it becomes apparent that Themsleves’ Dose One is harmonizing with the Notwist’s Markus Acher. It is these moments of subtle dynamic that make many of the songs here unique to the collaboration. There is the scratch-heavy sing-along “Afterclap,” the overwhelmingly buzzing, beat-heavy “Perfect Speed,” and the rhythmically charged “Tin Strong.” All of these include unsuspecting, sometimes extremely subtle, rewarding role reversals.

If one track epitomizes the success of the collaboration it is “Ghostwork.” An unbelievable match-up between Dose One’s nasal sing/speak vocals and the Notwists’ inventive electronics. The orchestral instrumentation and bouncy rhythms help to create a surprisingly funky backdrop for Dose One’s flavorful and quick-paced cadence.

13 and God achieves an exceptional balance between Electronic Pop and Hip-Hop. Rhymes are smoothly integrated with singing, and neck-snapping beats are juxtaposed with organic melodies. Together, The Notwist and Themselves give birth to a sound even more heavenly then the sum of its parts.