“Goldene Reiter,” with this cult NDW song from 1981, we certainly all associate Joachim Witt. That this song is about a schizophrenic person who is committed to a psychiatric hospital was understood by very few back then and even today. Joachim Witt was merely expressing his melancholic state of mind, which he has not shed to this day. This is also evident in his second hit “Die Flut” from the late 90s, which he recorded together with Peter Heppner from WOLFSHEIM. Riding the wave of “Die Flut,” songs like “Das geht tief” and “Eisenherz” were somewhat more successful, but after that, it was quiet around him again, just like in the years before, although he was musically active. He just didn’t find the zeitgeist with his sometimes tragic, sometimes rocky, and sometimes NDH songs.
With his new album “Dom,” Joachim Witt hopes for his third summer, following “Goldene Reiter” and “Die Flut.” But even the pre-single “Gloria” or the video did not convince me. Now, after listening to the album multiple times, I like “Gloria,” which is also the first track of the album, much better, but the song still won’t be a hit. I prefer the second song “Jetzt geh,” perhaps also because it strongly reminds me of UNHEILIG. Starting from the third song “Tränen,” the album takes on a melancholic tone. A depressive mood also characterizes the 8 other NDH songs, which sound more rocky at times and more electronic at others. This is often reflected in titles like “Komm nie wieder zurück,” “Untergehen,” “Beben (und ich erreich kein Ufer),” among others. In contrast to Joachim Witt’s spoken word, four sweet-sounding women, mostly Michelle Leonard, sing and draw the songs even deeper into darkness.
Subjectively speaking, the album is too melancholic for me.
Nihilists will especially enjoy “Dom” in extreme weather conditions! The album fits very well with a violent autumn storm or a harsh cold snap. However, when listening to the 47 minutes of the album in front of the fireplace, one must be careful that “Dom” does not become the soundtrack to suicide.
